Trademarks Of Terror

In the days after the September 11 terrorist bombings,the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office received severalapplications to trademark terms somehow affiliatedwith the attacks. For example, one guy wants a TM foran "Osama Pinata," while a California man wants toslap "Osama, Yo' MAMA!" on t-shirts. But a review ofUSPTO records shows that only one application wasactually submitted on the day of the attack itself, abid to trademark the term "World Trade Center" for afuture TV or movie production. New Jersey's MichaelHeiden, a restaurateur who is "trying hard to breakinto the film business," filed for the TM at 2:40 thatafternoon (eight minutes later, Mayor Rudolph Giulianifirst hinted at the enormity of the WTC death toll,saying the number might be "more than any of us canbear"). Heiden, who told TSG that he was not trying tocapitalize on the tragedy, noted that film producerstrademarked the term "Pearl Harbor" in advance ofmaking the recent movie of the same name. "If theyever do a movie, I'd like to get involved," saidHeiden, who promised that he would donate a portion offuture earnings connected with the trademark (were itto be approved, of course). Along with the below WorldTrade Center application, Heiden has another pendingfilm-related TM. He's filed for "Dog Cinema," aproposed "funny, entertaining, light" film aboutcanines and their owners. (3 pages)

Sorry, it's not heartbreaking or staggering.

Join TSG's mailing list.