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Trademark Resolution: Postal Service To Promote The Postal Service

from the innovative dept

Mon, Nov 8th 2004 9:07pm — Mike Masnick

For all the stories we hear about ridiculous trademark lawsuits and cease & desist letters, here's an interesting twist. Copyfight is pointing to a NY Times article that talks about the innovative way the US Postal Service settled a trademark dispute with a band called Postal Service. After originally sending a cease & desist, the two sides worked out an agreement where the band would help promote the actual Postal Service, which also would help the USPS try to get a little more attention from that younger generation who doesn't quite see the need for the Postal Service. Of course, you could question why a cease & desist was needed at all. Was there anyone out there who would actually confuse a CD from a band for the actual United States Postal Service? It seems unlikely. But, if you believe that it really was a threat, maybe you'll also believe that teens and 20-year-olds will suddenly start rushing to the post office rather than sending email just because some music act says they should.

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DV Henkel-Wallace, 9 Nov 2004 @ 5:18am

Could work...
...maybe you'll also believe that teens and 20-year-olds will suddenly start rushing to the post office rather than sending email just because some music act says they should.
Hey, it works with useless shoes and other consumer items, why not the tragically unhip post office?
Of course they could finish their shows by "going postal" and squirting the audience with super-soakers...
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- James, 9 Nov 2004 @ 5:24am
  
  Re: Could work...
  They are a pretty cool band when it comes right down to it too. IMHO they have a few pretty good tracks anyway.
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- watch what you say, 12 Jan 2007 @ 1:25pm
  
  Re: Could work...
  better watch what you say there, The Tragically Hip might be sending you a cease and desist letter for trademark violation ;)
  
  http://www.thehip.com/
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Nov 2004 @ 9:48am

No Subject Given
Wasn't Chicago Transit Authority forced to change its name by the actual CTA, 35 years ago? They subsequently recorded under the name Chicago.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Jan 2007 @ 12:32pm

Organizations that don't defend their copyrights against all comers risk losing the ability to defend against any. You don't want to give a real infringer the ability to point to another case where you didn't take some action and accuse you of discriminatory conduct.
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