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Islamic Rage Boy “Disparaging” According To U.S. Trademark Office
We recently learned that TNOYF’s application for trademark protection for Islamic Rage Boy had been rejected, “because the proposed mark consists of or includes matters which may disparage or bring into contempt or disrepute persons, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols,” according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
While we’ve copyrighted IRB, we thought we’d take a shot at the full monty in an effort to protect the intellectual property. Unfortunately for us, we seem to have run into a brash young government lawyer who’s decided his job is to decide what is offensive and what is not.
Some of his more Darrowesque conclusions (NOTE: Non-italicized words are verbatim quotes from the rejection letter):
“The mark as a whole, stereotypes male Muslims as having an extremist and terrorist-like element (As opposed to the more common Muslim stereotype, a reticent fly-fisherman). Such a meaning is clearly offensive to all Muslims (translation: such a mark is clearly offensive to violent Muslim extremists and effeminate U.S. trademark attorneys. Tell us, you simpering paper-pusher: at what point will it be okay for us to poke fun at those who wish to enroll us in an involuntary “head relocation program?”). One site estimates that there are six to seven million Muslims in the United States (”One site”? I’m sorry, but should you really be Googling census figures? Don’t you work for the government?).A recent poll shows that 96% of American Muslims consider Islam an important factor in their daily lives’ (And another shows that 35% are OK with blowing up non-believers to demonstrate that importance. So if your carefully researched Google numbers are correct, that makes around 2.2 million or so practitioners of the religion of peace who don’t give a flying falafel whether or not you are trying to protect their delicate religious sensibilities; they’ll be happy to see you blown up just the same.).
The word portion of applicant’s mark combines the terms “Islamic”, “Rage”, and “Boy.” (Tell me, do you have a sign on your desk that reads: “Your tax dollars hard at work.”?)The word “rage” means: (1) “a violent and uncontrolled anger”, (2) “a fit of violent wrath”; and (3) “a violent action.” The word “Islam” means “peace, the surrendering of oneself to God” (I know. We are continuously stumped by the incongruency these fellows show as well.) Thus, viewed together (I must say that I love the way you deftly weave these threads together, creating a legal tapestry that promises to delight), Islamic rage conjures up the image of violent Muslim extremists (every time I read your words, my brain vomits just a little bit inside of my skull.). Associating Muslims with the imagery of extreme violence would be offensive not only to Muslims, but also to the entire American public (as members of the American public, we wanted to thank you for informing us that we are in fact offended. Now, let me make sure I understand the rest of your carefully honed legalese: You are upset that male Muslims are being associated with extreme violence? What is your stance on peanut butter being associated with jelly?). Indeed, Al-Qaeda’s second in command Ayman al-Zawahri threatened Americans by stating “You are facing the Islamic rage“ (if you insist on making our points for us, the least you could do is approve the trademark.). Here, applicant’s mark essentially creates that very offensive image of grouping all Muslims as terrorists (are you responding to our request for the trademark of “Islamic Rage Boy” or the lesser known “Islamic ‘Every Single Muslim Is A Bloodthirsty Killer’ Rage Boy”? Because we withdrew that one last year.). Indeed (again with the “indeed”, I think you might be hearing from Glenn Reynolds’ attorney.) there are millions of Muslims the world over who are living peaceful lives and have a great love of their religion (and there are a great many people - Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus et al- who are no longer living because of the fascist beliefs and murderous acts of Muslim extremists. Tell me again why we can’t make fun of them?). Accordingly, it is wholly inaccurate and offensive to label all male Muslims as being extremists (fair enough, but based on my experience so far it seems perfectly reasonable to label all patent attorneys “politically-correct, mincing douchebags”) .
The offensive nature of applicant’s mark is further augmented in light of America’s post 9/11 environment (I bet you are a scream at parties). Viewed in this context, applicant’s mark further offends Muslim males by equating ordinary male Muslims with violent and extreme actions (hey, are you the guy that pushed for elderly white ladies and toddlers to be strip-searched at the airport?). One Muslim was described as being “hesitant to perpetuate the stereotype of an extremist Muslim” (so he took the suicide belt off?). Another attached article also states that “Muslims fear they are the victims of overzealous investigators (preach on brother. I too am pretty sick and tired of reading all of the “Another innocent Muslim beaten to death by Christian extremists” headlines.) who buy into negative stereotypes that depict people of Islamic faith as extremists.” (Hey, no fair. You didn’t tell us that we could attach articles in support of our case!).
Returning to applicant’s mark, ISLAMIC RAGE BOY consists of matter that perpetuates negative stereotypes of male Muslims. Specifically, applicant’s mark refers to Islam as a faith of violent extremists (I know, but “Amish Rage Lad” and “The Bloodthirsty Buddhist Mauler” just didn’t ring true for us.). As one American has said, “it’s not fair to apply such a negative stereotype to all Muslims.” (Well, if one American said it, that changes everything).
Taking into consideration the term “boy” in applicant’s mark (he’s going in for the death blow now) further increases the offensive meaning of the said mark. The use of the term “boy” in applicant’s mark is set below a picture of a yelling man (we tried to put it sideways across his taint, but our rudimentary Photo Shop skills prohibited this). In this context, “boy” is “offensive” and means “a male servant” (or just a hairy adolescent with a squeaky voice.). Labeling Islamic men as “boys” is not only demeaning, but also belittles them (you forgot “mocks” and ”emasculates”).
One final point, the intent of applicant is not relevant to a disparagement inquiry (Translation: My noble work is done here, do not question me peasants.)
Accordingly, the proposed mark is refused registration under Section 2(a).
(P.S. Be sure to kill me last, Mr. Bin Laden.)
9/12/2007: UPDATE 1
Hot Air discovered that EvilChristians is a registered trademark.
9/12/2007: UPDATE 2
Many requests for the acutal rejection document, so here are the relevant pages. If you want all the attachments, you need some new hobbies, but shoot me an email (potfry@aol.com).
Click to enlarge.
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Crap! Commented on the wrong post.
“The word Islam means peace.” No you incredibly stupid gummint bureaucrat. Islam means submission, as in submit or die. Asshole.
Hahahaha! Leave it up to a Federal attorney to fight our enemy’s battles for them. Good job, PTO, thanks for keeping Osama & Co. safe from Ye Olde Ridicule.
Geez, whose side is “our” government on, anyway?
Regards,
Brian
From the same government who legislates how far one of those crazy, Christian pro-lifers can protest at an abortion clinic. YAY!!! PARTIAL-BIRTH, THIRD TERM ABORTIONS FOR EVERYONE!!!! Cuz, you know; there’s nothing violent about that.
Please tell me this was one of your spoof pieces. This cheesewipe went over and above the call of duty to set you straight.
Pardon my snorting at this pissant lawyer. Who would have imagined I’d be offended by Islamic Rage Boy? I mean, I thought I considered him hilarious, but since I am a member of the American Public, according to P.C. Liberal, Attorney at Law, I am offended.
IRB is a representation of a very specific segment of the Islamic population, the extremist side of things. It is not a representation of Islam as a whole, at least in the minds of the creators. He represents Islamic Rage, as mentioned by Zawahri. The lawyer, by his words, almost admits that he and others would see that as a representation of all Islam. Even CAIR has the same knee-jerk reaction, and its a commonly held liberal opinion.
Remind me again, who are the racists?
I can see him now, inside his tiny little office, teeth gritted as his fingers stab out his rage upon the evil right wingers. You just keep fightin’ the power there, bub.
Not surprisingly, there are genuine questions concerning the authenticity of the rejection letter. So, to be clear: everything that is not italicized is verbatim from the rejection letter.
The fine line between satire and reality blurs even more…
So he didn’t approve it because he felt it wasn’t nice. I’m sure no one would protest a patent attorney not approving a trademark request from an abortion group, because they’re pro-life.
You should apply for a patent to:
amish rage boy
christian rage boy
and see what happens. wonder if the results will be the same.
I, as an American Citizen (Call me John, John Doe.) am offended–offended at this ******************* person who would take it upon himself to restrict arbitrarily your 1st Amendment rights.
You said it well, “What a ‘mincing douchebag.’”
You’re going to appeal this, right? IF you don’t, please let us all know so I can submit my own trademark request, get it similarly rejected and then file an appeal to expose this POS as what he is, a POS.
If you do decide to appeal, PLEASE by all means let us know and throw up a tip jar to cover expenses.
Thank goodness there’s mental giants like him out there to inform me about what is offensive. Had it not been for his well written (giggle) words, I may actually NOT have been offended. /sarcasm
I wonder if that pinheaded waste of oxygen will ever realize that Muslims are offended by the mere existence of western civilization?
Your parenthetical responses to this windbag of the multicultural faith are absolutely hilarious. I’m choking on my coffee here I’m laughing so hard. Please, please, please tell me you mailed this back to that tyrannical little bureaucrat with your comments included. I want to imagine the look on his face when he reads it. And then when he indignantly shows it to a colleague, and HE laughs his ass off, too. And then when he takes it home to show his wife what a hard day he’s had, and SHE laughs her ass off. I’m imagining him getting no pity at all, but a constant stream of “Dude, that guy is funny as hell. He totally ripped you.”
Sounds to me that the retard who wrote you the letter was IRB’s brother in faith. There is no other explanation for the incoherent mambo jumbo that only makes sense if you assume that the author of the letter is a muslim.
Let’s review the Section 2(a):
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/foia/ttab/2aissues/1999/75006702.pdf
or in summary
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/tmfaq.htm
“Additionally, Section 2 of the Trademark Act (15 U.S.C. §1052) contains several of the most common (though not the only) grounds for refusing registration. The grounds for refusal under Section 2 may be summarized as:
1. the proposed mark consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter;”
So tell me who in their right mind will say that IRB logo is:
a) immoral?
b)deceptive?
c) scandalous matter?
you might want to hire a lawer maybe…
I in no way am going to defend the trademark attorney. However, as someone who works on the patent side of things at the USPTO, I would ask that you leave us out of this affair. We have enough trouble trying not to issue patents for sandwiches and cat toys and methods of swinging. Patents and trademarks are not the same thing. Applications for each are examined by different people using different laws and regulations. By the way, a few years back, the Trademark Office revoked the Washington Redskins’ trademark on the basis of it being offensive. Not sure what happened with the appeal, but offensiveness is taken into account when deciding these things.
Also, reading over at Hot Air, “EVILCHRISTIANS” is A-OK with the trademark office, but a big fat no to the Islamic Rage Boy. I’m sure the memo said: “Only offend those who aren’t likely to come to this office and kill us. If you think they might kill us, write a nice letter about not being offensive and such stuff. Remember, only allow offensive trademarks to people/groups who won’t kill us.”
Here’s the link:
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/09/11/patent-office-evilchristianstrademark-islamic-rage-boyno-trademark/
Holy jumped-up Jehosaphat! His reasons were appalling, but I’ve never laughed so hard as I did reading your italicized responses!
Bravo!
Ooh, maybe submit a request for trademark protection for “Rage Boy of Undetermined Religious Affiliation,” attaching a picture of some random neighbor’s uncle. And compare the responses.
“Associating Muslims with the imagery of extreme violence would be offensive not only to Muslims, but also to the entire American public.”
I am not offended by this, and I am an American. I suspect there are at least a few more of us.
I say you find this guy’s photo, paste “politically-correct, mincing douchebag” at the bottom, and submit it for trademark
What was this, a freakin’ term paper for some moonbat professor? Did he properly footnote it?
The offensive nature of applicant’s mark is further augmented in light of America’s post 9/11 environment…
I suppose if you had tried to trademark IRB before those other rage-filled lovers of Islam flew planes into our buildings, your application would have been approved…
Please tell us, your legion of loyal readers who worship atcho ribald comedic feet, that you actually responded this way?
This was some hilarious stuff, gentlemen. I laughed so hard, I stopped “feeling fresh”.
Laurie Kendrick
Are you allowed to re-submit, referencing the “EvilChristians” mark as precedent of why yours should not be denied? I’d do it, in your shoes.
It sounds like one of those 6.5 million Muslim Americans is a lawyer in the government patent office.
Iraqi insurgents kill key US ally
President Bush endorsed Abu Risha on a recent visit
A key Sunni ally of the US and Iraqi governments has been killed in a bomb attack in the Iraqi city of Ramadi.
Isam means peace? Then what does peace mean?
Dont forget it was SLIME that name GORBECHEVE as MAN OF THE DECADE and once name ADOLPH HITLER and its MAN OF THE YEAR in 1938 and besides SLIME is a secular liberal rag