'West Point' Off Limits to Anti-War Alums

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Army warned an anti-war group of former U.S. Military Academy cadets to stop using the words "West Point" in its name, saying they are trademarked.

A co-founder of West Point Graduates Against the War countered Friday that his organization is simply following the cadets' code.

"At West Point, we were taught that cadets do not lie, cheat or steal — and to oppose those who do," said William Cross, a 1962 West Point graduate. "We are a positive organization. We are not anti-West Point or anti-military. We are just trying to uphold what we were taught."

The group, open to West Point graduates, spouses and children, claims about 50 members.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060505/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/anti_war_graduates

By law, there is no government intellectual property -- it belongs to the People of the USA. Period.

Something doesn't sound right.

--p!

it is not, according to Wikipedia.

You might be confusing it with some of the private military acadamies like Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel.

There definitely is such a thing as government intellectual property -- many patents are held by the US government. You're probably thinking about the exception in the copyright law for government works. That exception, however, exists only because the Copyright Act(section 105) expressly states that copyright protection is not available for a "work of the United States Government" -- meaning a work prepared by an officer or employee of the US government as part of that person's official duties. I don't believe that there is a comparable limitation on trademarks (and clearly there isn't on patents)

onenote

They sued a local, long established sporting goods store to stop selling clothing with the University logo. (The University had recently opened it's own "outlet" nearby....go figure) Amazingly, the University won the case, the store - a big University supporter for years - had to stop sales.

I'd guess that not many universities have not registered their logos as trademarks. No license is issued for items deemed inappropriate.

eom

...if we weren't living in Bushworld™, that is.

West Point has a number of trademark registrations (you can look it up at http://www.uspto.gov, if you can stand that fact that their website features a different Republican politician).

Same with university trademarks. Colleges own the logos - and license their use to others.

They never went after West Point, MS, so there seems to be a little discrimination going on here.

Why hasn't the academy sued them?

"West Point" and items with the "West Point" logo are registered commercial trademarks.

if there's an organization called "Americans against (repub flavor du jour)", they risk copyright infringement?

What about "Veterans"?

changed its name to "The College Of New Jersey", which used to be Princeton's name in the 18th century. Apparently, Princeton believed it had some sort of permanent ownership over a name it retired two hundred years ago.

I wonder what dumbazz decided that "West Point" is trademarked. Probably another Bush toadie installed at USMA to brainwash the cadets. Just another un-American attempt to stifle dissent. :mad:

West Point is a term important to our history and belongs to all of us, especially these grads who are living up to their creed. :patriot:

I am a graduate of ROTC. What if I wanted to start a group called ROT-C Nazis Against The War? I suppose that is trademarked too.

:rofl:

http://www.westpointgradsagainstthewar.org/

heroes all!

Sue? That would be so great-- nothing like that to get scads of free publicity and sympathy.

It's a point, and it faces west. See?

How can that be trademarked?

The Jesuit university where I work does this to the unofficial pro-choice group on campus: It's not allowed to use the school's nickname; the group actually uses an asterisk in place of an "o" to get around the prohibition.

Serial Number 75599378
Registration Number 2320987

Typed Drawing


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Word Mark WEST POINT
Goods and Services IC 014. US 002 027 028 050. G & S: Commemorative coins and medallions, earrings, pendants, lapel pins, tie tacks, tie bars, belt buckles of precious metal, cuff links of precious metal, watches, cigarette lighters of precious metal. FIRST USE: 19750100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19750100
IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Brochures and news letter of Academy functions, catalogs and guide books regarding activities at the United States Military Academy and admission requirements, writing paper and envelopes, paper napkins, note cards, post card, pens and pencils. FIRST USE: 19230700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19230700

IC 021. US 002 013 023 029 030 033 040 050. G & S: Glass and porcelain beverageware. FIRST USE: 19230700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19230700

IC 024. US 042 050. G & S: Towels and bed blankets. FIRST USE: 19750100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19750100

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Men's wear. FIRST USE: 19230700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19230700

IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Golf Balls, golf club covers, Christmas tree ornaments, jigsaw puzzles. FIRST USE: 19750100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19750100

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Educational services, namely, conducting classes in physical education, military training and all manner of academic subjects at the undergraduate level; entertainment services, namely, conducting athletic contests, live theatrical performance and live musical performances. FIRST USE: 19230700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19230700

IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Retail store services, mail order and mail order catalog services featuring clothing, beverageware and giftware and giftware items. FIRST USE: 19230700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19230700

Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Design Search Code
Serial Number 75599378
Filing Date November 25, 1998
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition November 30, 1999
Registration Number 2320987
Registration Date February 22, 2000
Owner (REGISTRANT) DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FEDERAL AGENCY UNITED STATES Office of the Judge Advocate General DA ATTN: JALS-IP 901 N Stuart Street, Ste 700 Arlington VIRGINIA 222031837
Attorney of Record WILLIAM S GARDINER
Prior Registrations 1261989;1274265
Type of Mark TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Maybe that's the old WP. :shrug: