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1.  

   What more are these gonna become

   

   Anonymous of Toronto, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 3:19am

   
   

   My god, first it's internet trolls, now it's trademark trolls?
   
   Dam, I must REALLY be behind all this crappic BS.
   
   Fuck Idaho potato commission, i'll use that name as much as I want :D

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2.  

   

   Anonymous Coward, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 3:40am

   
   

   Actually, it is pretty common to see this happen. In many countries, you cannot use the name of a region or a type of grape (in wine production) unless you are producing in the correct area with the correct grape.
   
   I don't think this one is trolling - they have the trademark, it is valid, and the trademark is in fact a good and reasonable one (otherwise some idiot would import potatoes on the cheap from Canada, call them Idaho potatos, and confuse the market).
   
   Oh, before anyone asks, yes, there is a difference in potato types.

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3.  

   This just in...

   

   Blatant Coward, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 3:55am

   
   

   Thousands of "Unregistered Sex workers" are now suing Idaho for use of their descriptive phrase, "I da Ho."
   
   More on this as it develops, back to you Mike.

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4.  

   

   Mike Borella, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 5:15am

   
   

   You can hold a trademark on a descriptive phrase in the US so long as the phrase has acquired meaning that identifies you as the source.

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5.  

   Re:

   

   Anonymous Coward, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 5:45am

   
   

   No you are wrong. This is Mike. He is never wrong. He is right, because his other blogs say he is right.

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6.  

   Re:

   

   Anonymous Coward, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 5:52am

   
   

   @ AC#2
   Yeah, but in this case,
   a) it's a restaurant, not a competing potato producing state
   b) it's a restaurant in Idaho
   c) it's a restaurant in Idaho that uses Idaho potatoes.
   
   The place is called Idaho Fry Company - in no way do I personally mistake it for the Idaho Potato Commission.

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7.  

   This just in

   

   John Duncan Yoyo (profile), Jun 9th, 2009 @ 5:55am

   
   

   Idaho is now suing Frank Herbert to change the name of Duncan Idaho from his classic novel Dune.
   
   Mister Herbert has been dead since 1986 and is unavailable for comment.

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8.  

   Re: Re:

   

   Sean T Henry (profile), Jun 9th, 2009 @ 6:16am

   
   

   I think that it is BS and I hope that The Idaho Fry Company fights back. Like by placing a large sign that reads
   
   Due to a law suite from Idaho Potatoes we were forced to change our name to "This State Fry Company" and will no longer be serving Idaho Potatoes. We hope you will do the same.

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9.  

   Re:

   

   ChrisB (profile), Jun 9th, 2009 @ 6:58am

   
   

   "In the United States, designations that are geographically descriptive, namely a geographical location that consumers would interpret as descriptive of the geographic origin of the goods or services, cannot be protected as trademarks unless they have acquired distinctiveness, or secondary meaning, through use."

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10.  

    Re: Re:

    

    Dark Helmet (profile), Jun 9th, 2009 @ 9:14am

    
    

    "...unless they have acquired distinctiveness, or secondary meaning, through use."
    
    Frankly, I think Idaho Potatoes would fall under that category. When I think of the "Idaho" in Idaho Potatoes, I'm not thinking of the state, or even the origin of the vegetable. I'm thinking almost solely of the brand. Could just be me and my Irish love of starchy land turds.

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11.  

    Re:

    

    Idaho Potato Commisioner, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 9:15am

    
    

    Jesus you're an idiot.

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12.  

    Re: Re: Re:

    

    Idaho Potato Commisioner, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 9:20am

    
    

    Jesus, you're and idiot too.
    
    when you think of Idaho, you don't think of the state? I can see that.
    
    When I hear Irish i don't think of the country I think of the brand that represents an bunch of drunk leprechauns beating up gays in NYC

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13.  

    Re: This just in

    

    Pedro, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 9:21am

    
    

    Wow you went a long way for that dud didn't you.

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14.  

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    

    Dark Helmet (profile), Jun 9th, 2009 @ 9:44am

    
    

    "When I hear Irish i don't think of the country I think of the brand that represents an bunch of drunk leprechauns beating up gays in NYC"
    
    To be fair, our leprechauns beat up everyone when they're drunk, not just the gays.

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15.  

    Kentucky Fried Chicken vs KFC

    

    Anonymous Coward, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 10:20am

    
    

    Why do you think the name changed to KFC. The State wanted cash for KFC to use the name Kentucky.

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16.  

    Re: Re:

    

    Anonymous Coward, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 10:40am

    
    

    Jesus is not an idiot!

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17.  

    Re: Re: Re:

    

    Jason, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 11:13am

    
    

    DON'T BLAME THE POTATOES. Idaho potatoes are noble tubers with an effervescent soul. Don't stop serving these fine taters just because some dumb commission acts dumb. Hell, that's what dumb commissions DO!!

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18.  

    Re: Re: This just in

    

    Jason, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 11:15am

    
    

    Pedro for President!

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19.  

    Re: Kentucky Fried Chicken vs KFC

    

    Jason, Jun 9th, 2009 @ 11:23am

    
    

    No, the truth is much more stupid than that. Someone in their marketing department told them that "Fried" sent bad messages to a health conscious demographic.
    
    So first they tried these ridiculous hipster commercials trying to rebrand as Kountry Fresh Chicken, and when everyone thought that was stupid, they just shut up and quietly shifted everything to just plain KFC.
    
    Nevermind that people who go to KFC go because they want deep fried breaded chicken pieces, fat laden biscuits, and lots of mashed potatoes and gravy. They would have done better to get rid of cole slaw than give up ownership of the word FRIED.

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