NY Port Authority Claims To Own The NYC Skyline: Tells Store To Destroy Skyline-Themed Plates
from the your-bullying-is-of-great-concern dept
What is it with insane NY-related bureaucrats and their attempts to "own" things? In the past, we've covered how New York State is a pretty big trademark bully over the "I ♥ NY" phrase, and did you know that the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) claims ownership over the phrase "If you see something, say something"? And, now, we find out that the controversy-ridden Port Authority of NY and NJ appears to be claiming ownership of the NYC skyline. No joke. It apparently sent a cease-and-desist letter to Fishs Eddy, a housewares store in Manhattan that is selling some city themed dishes.In a letter to Fishs Eddy dated July 24, Veronica Rodriguez, a lawyer for the authority, asked the store to stop selling anything with these “assets” on them, and to “destroy all materials, documents and other items bearing the assets.”Yes, and your use of stupid bullying tactics over people celebrating your city is of great concern to pretty much everyone else. What sort of life must you lead to spend your work life looking for people to bully for daring to sell merchandise that celebrates the city you technically work for?
“Your use of the Port Authority’s assets on dinnerware and other items is of great concern to the Port Authority,” she wrote.
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Filed Under: intellectual property, new york city, nyc, ownership, port authority, skyline
Companies: fishs eddy
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Proper response...
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Re: Proper response...
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Another inbox mistake?
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Speaking as a Brit ...
Now who's gonna claim the rights to the sky ...
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Re: Speaking as a Brit ...
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Rupert Murdoch has the trademark already...
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17 USC 120(a)
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Erica Dumas, a spokeswoman for the authority, said that similar trademark enforcement efforts had been undertaken and that Fishs Eddy was not being singled out.
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Personally, I think its about the most counter-productive thing for the city to do. They spend millions on promoting the city, one would think they would welcome such activity.
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Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jul 31st, 2014 @ 9:30am
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anyway, what has the outcome been? are the plates still on sale or has the fear of crap been put into them??
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Wait, don't the tax payers own those buildings?
Anyway, this would be a great Garfield minus Garfield moment to get a skyline without the Port Authority.
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Response
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This is something
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Trademark this…
NY
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I 💗 NYC or just I 💗 NY
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What's the commerce angle?
The port authority sells what? other than "renting out" corrupt politicians and law makers as part of their primary revenue source for their commerce... and giving contracts to "favored sons"...
So.. I don't see the confusion in buying a dinner plate vs buying a corrupt politician or major contract ... Even our favorite moron-in-a-hurry can tell the difference...
At least a dinner plate can be used and then cleaned... /sarc
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I wonder if York, England will sue New York?
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"Ms. Rodriguez wrote that Fishs Eddy ceramic ware “interferes with the Port Authority’s control of its own reputation."
And it isnt the first time that groups have tried this with Fishs:
"Ms. Gaines faced a similar challenge to “212” in 1998, when Tishman Speyer Properties and the Travelers Group, owners of the Chrysler Building, demanded that she remove their landmark from the skyline and promptly destroy all remaining inventory."
Personally, I would tell them all to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.
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If they have been in control of their own reputation, why does it suck so bad?
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If anyone was in control over their own reputation, then each person would be able to declare "I'm a great person" and sue everyone else the instant anyone said otherwise.
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Example: "That person can't sell parody versions of our products for dogs, we have tradematrks!"
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Not acting like an asshole seems to work for most people.
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email Veronica
http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/10003-ny-veronica-rodriguez-3811307/contact.html
I'm sure she would like hearing from everyone with an opinion on her (and the Port Authority's) bullying attitude.
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My reply
Ball is in your court.
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Oh, wait, I was thinking of "Don't suspect your neighbor, turn them in!". From Brazil. A movie. Over-the-top fiction, at the time. It's now must less engaging because it looks like regular life.
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If you see something, say something
Thank goodness you have made me aware. I could have potentially made the mistake of seeing something and then violating their rights by telling someone about an impending disaster. You really have to do the math, on one hand you have the lives of hundreds of people on a subway and on the other hand, you have the 172% of Americans (based on their numbers) who rely on IP protection for their livelihood.
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i wonder if they will ship to norway :D
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Does the authority hire educated lawyers?
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2) Transfer picture to ceramic disk
There - now at least the obvious steps are documented.
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OMG
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/orangelantern
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reputation? oh yah!
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"Your use of the Port Authority’s assets on dinnerware and other items is of great concern to the Port Authority," she wrote.
Is Ms Rodriguez even serious? How is this even helping tourism to NY with this kind of thing going on?
Ok, here's another solution: edit the skyline to eliminate those assets and reprint the skyline without them. There must be far more attractive buildings behind these assets that are probably more worth looking at.
Oh, and here's another question: Is the port authority a government department / institution? If so, then the average Joe Citizen owns them by virtue of having paid taxes.
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you can't take the sky from me
lyrics and music by Joss Whedon
sung by Sonny Rhodes
take my love
take my land
take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
you can't take the sky from me
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BTW does the store have a website?
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I 💔 PANYNJ
I 💔 PANYNJ
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