Honda is not as harmful to life on Earth as Monsanto or Chevron, but they are all large corporations that advertise how green they are.
If Save The Earth Foundation didn't protect their trademark they could lose the right to control the trademark. Consider the reasons Save the Earth might have to protect that trademark:
First, the legal requirement to take action if another company uses your trademark to promote themselves. It causes confusion, which is one of the basic tenets of trademark law. (Does Save The Earth endorse Honda? Is Honda partnering with Save The Earth to do good?
Next is monetary value of the trademark. It costs money to get and maintain a trademark, and Save The Earth has had their trademark since 1972. Trademarks gain value over time (Coke's is worth billions). Trademark infringement is basically theft - of intellectual property.
Trademark holders can license their image. Honda can afford to pay a license fee. My question would be, did they offer to pay a licensing fee and were turned down by Save The Earth (who surely spent more time on the question than you and me). Or did Honda blow off the little environmental organization and not pay a fair licensing fee? Or did the ad agency throw the phrase on there without researching it, and Honda's PR people missed it too?
Honda is doing a lot to develop fuel-efficient cars. At the same time, someone needs to hold the greenwashing corporations accountable. A trademark on Save The Earth is one way to do that. Check out thegreenlifeonline.org for their a Greenwasher of the Month.
I have been fighting for artists rights for over 11 years to the point where
it has devastated both my business and the livelihoods of my artist alliance
. I'm guessing we only license 1 image these days to every 50 which are
stolen and profited from. I personally have uncovered over 500 for- profit
companies whom have stolen over 8,000 images from my artists!!!! I can not
expose this story to the point which will soon be shared, but please know
one thing about this irony! I have fought this matter with my own personal
investments to a point of bankruptcy. I love my artists and their right to
earn money from their unique, artistic, intellectual property! If anyone is
interested in the entire story of my experience, please contact me
personally at accounts@stockart.com/.
I do want to personally thank you for your concern. I understand your
concern! Stockart.com is proud to advocate and represent the copyrights and
works of the many award-winning and talented artists who have provided their
work to Stockart.com for rights managed licensing for over a decade. The
works which are of concern to Stockart.com and Mr. Engle include, and are
not limited to, the works of:
Paul Dolan
Image #PD0A0046 (Stork Image)
Image #PD0A0145 (Snake Image)
Stockart.com intends to use an appropriate "legal" forum to resolve
Stockart.com's concerns about the above and many other works; one which will
allow Stockart.com to explain why Stockart.com claims rights in the many
images which these artists have provided to Stockart.com, one which affords
dignity to the artists whose work Stockart.com represents; one which will
treat Mr. Engle with dignity and respect; one which will give Mr. Engle an
opportunity explain why he believes he has authorship or copyrights in the
many images with which Stockart.com is concerned.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Askew, Principal/Founder
Stockart.com, LLC
----- Original Message -----
From: Turquoise
To: support@stockart.com
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:33 PM
Subject: very unhappy about your treatment of Jon Engle
This story is all over the internet now. Designers are furious. Better do something quick.You need to fire that lawyer. He is ruining your company's reputation.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by turquoise.
trademark holders are required to defend it or lose it
Honda is not as harmful to life on Earth as Monsanto or Chevron, but they are all large corporations that advertise how green they are.
If Save The Earth Foundation didn't protect their trademark they could lose the right to control the trademark. Consider the reasons Save the Earth might have to protect that trademark:
First, the legal requirement to take action if another company uses your trademark to promote themselves. It causes confusion, which is one of the basic tenets of trademark law. (Does Save The Earth endorse Honda? Is Honda partnering with Save The Earth to do good?
Next is monetary value of the trademark. It costs money to get and maintain a trademark, and Save The Earth has had their trademark since 1972. Trademarks gain value over time (Coke's is worth billions). Trademark infringement is basically theft - of intellectual property.
Trademark holders can license their image. Honda can afford to pay a license fee. My question would be, did they offer to pay a licensing fee and were turned down by Save The Earth (who surely spent more time on the question than you and me). Or did Honda blow off the little environmental organization and not pay a fair licensing fee? Or did the ad agency throw the phrase on there without researching it, and Honda's PR people missed it too?
Honda is doing a lot to develop fuel-efficient cars. At the same time, someone needs to hold the greenwashing corporations accountable. A trademark on Save The Earth is one way to do that. Check out thegreenlifeonline.org for their a Greenwasher of the Month.
IS JON ENGLE TELLING THE TRUTH? STOCKART POSTS DETAILS
Dear Respected Design Community,
I have been fighting for artists rights for over 11 years to the point where
it has devastated both my business and the livelihoods of my artist alliance
. I'm guessing we only license 1 image these days to every 50 which are
stolen and profited from. I personally have uncovered over 500 for- profit
companies whom have stolen over 8,000 images from my artists!!!! I can not
expose this story to the point which will soon be shared, but please know
one thing about this irony! I have fought this matter with my own personal
investments to a point of bankruptcy. I love my artists and their right to
earn money from their unique, artistic, intellectual property! If anyone is
interested in the entire story of my experience, please contact me
personally at accounts@stockart.com/.
I do want to personally thank you for your concern. I understand your
concern! Stockart.com is proud to advocate and represent the copyrights and
works of the many award-winning and talented artists who have provided their
work to Stockart.com for rights managed licensing for over a decade. The
works which are of concern to Stockart.com and Mr. Engle include, and are
not limited to, the works of:
Patricia Dalbey
Image #PD1P0138 (Stoplight Image)
Image #PD1A0213 (Chef Hat Image)
Image #PD1A0087 (Grape Image)
Phill Bliss
Image PB#2A0244 (Sun and Moon Image)
Cindy Lindgren
Image #CL1A0083 (Feather Image)
Image #CL1X0181 (Feather Pen Image)
Image #CL1A0102 (Peapod Image)
Image #CL1X0216 (Hand Image)
Scott Greer
Image #SG1A0094 (Shoe Image)
=0 A
Dave Winter
Image #DW0V0054 (Sombrero Image)
Larry Milam
Image #LM1A0041 (Rose Image)
Image #LM1A0043 (Mountain Image)
Image #LM1A0434 (Plate Image)
Mary Ross
Image #MR4P0041 (Star Image)
A 0
Rita Lascaro
Image #RL1A0061 (Rope Image)
Robert L. Prince
Image #RP0X0123 (Coffee Cup Image)
Peter Buttecali
Image #PB1A0004 (Rooster Image)
Image #PB1A0030 (Skunk Image)
Image #PB1A0034 (Lioness Image)
Image #PB1A0080 (Truck Image)
Image #PB1X0231 (Horse Image)
Image #PB1X0337 (Door Image)
Image #PB1X0346 (Building Image)
Image #PB1X0535 (Crown Image)
Image #PB1X0536 (Crown Image 2)
Image #PB1X0614 (Mountain Image)
Image #PB1X0714 (Mountain Image 2)
Michael Rowley
Image #MR1X0058 (Cow Image)
Image #MR1V0088 (King Image)
Image #MR1X0168 (Jester Image) 20
Image #MR1X0189 (Donkey Image)
Image #MR1V0219 (Jester Image- Color)
Image #MR10227 (Waiter Image)
Image #MR1X0257 (Cat and Dog Image)
Elizabeth Burrill
Image #EB1X0079 (Pig Image)
Paul Dolan
Image #PD0A0046 (Stork Image)
Image #PD0A0145 (Snake Image)
Stockart.com intends to use an appropriate "legal" forum to resolve
Stockart.com's concerns about the above and many other works; one which will
allow Stockart.com to explain why Stockart.com claims rights in the many
images which these artists have provided to Stockart.com, one which affords
dignity to the artists whose work Stockart.com represents; one which will
treat Mr. Engle with dignity and respect; one which will give Mr. Engle an
opportunity explain why he believes he has authorship or copyrights in the
many images with which Stockart.com is concerned.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Askew, Principal/Founder
Stockart.com, LLC
----- Original Message -----
From: Turquoise
To: support@stockart.com
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:33 PM
Subject: very unhappy about your treatment of Jon Engle
This story is all over the internet now. Designers are furious. Better do something quick.You need to fire that lawyer. He is ruining your company's reputation.