One second, two seconds.. anyone can trademark a word as long as you've got the money and a cause. The way that you use the term "sitting here spinning my wheels" does not pertain to anything but the wheels spinning. As soon as the term spinning relates to indoor cycling or indoor cycling products, it becomes a trademark and should be used only when referring to the specific "Spinning" indoor cycling program. So, if you are the inventor of a product or service, it is advantageous, if you've got the money to get it trademarked. Here's some education on trademark registration straight from the U.S. Patent and Trademark website - notice the third line first two words "any word".
What is a trademark or service mark?
In short, a trademark is a brand name. A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. A service mark is any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce, to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services.
Must all marks be registered?
No, but federal registration has several advantages, including a notice to the public of the registrant's claim of ownership of the mark, a legal presumption of ownership nationwide, and the exclusive right to use the mark on or in connection with the goods or services set forth in the registration.
As a former employee of Mad Dogg I take umbrage in the lack of knowledge here pertaining to some of the comments in this thread. While the term spinning is related to cycling outdoors, Spinning was also the term coined by Johnny Goldberg and John Baudhuin in the early 90's (even late 1980's Johnny was teaching Spinning in his garage), the creators and brains behind group indoor cycling to brand this type of group fitness exercise. The term was trademarked so that it would distinguish them from competitive brands that would obviously come along in the future. Spinning is a very specific program based on hand position, cadence, specific movements, etc. The Spinner bike and the program go hand in hand. When you partake in a Spinning class, you know you are getting quality instruction that is safe. There are some crazy instructors out there who have no training whatsover but call themselves spinning instructors. Why would Mad Dogg want to ruin their good reputation because someone thinks that spinning is generic. It is very difficult for Mad Dogg to police the world to make sure their trademark is not being misused. It's when someone makes them aware of the misuse that they contact the faciltiy or company only to educate tehm and ask they stop misusing their trademark. As they are the trademark owner, it is law that allows them to protect their brand, just as Apple (another "word" that has been trademarkd) is allowed to protect their brand of computer...just saying
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Spinning
Gyms Mesa...maybe the classes in Mesa are classes that are contducted at licensed Spinning facilities teaching the Spinning program?
spinning
One second, two seconds.. anyone can trademark a word as long as you've got the money and a cause. The way that you use the term "sitting here spinning my wheels" does not pertain to anything but the wheels spinning. As soon as the term spinning relates to indoor cycling or indoor cycling products, it becomes a trademark and should be used only when referring to the specific "Spinning" indoor cycling program. So, if you are the inventor of a product or service, it is advantageous, if you've got the money to get it trademarked. Here's some education on trademark registration straight from the U.S. Patent and Trademark website - notice the third line first two words "any word".
What is a trademark or service mark?
In short, a trademark is a brand name. A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. A service mark is any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce, to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services.
Must all marks be registered?
No, but federal registration has several advantages, including a notice to the public of the registrant's claim of ownership of the mark, a legal presumption of ownership nationwide, and the exclusive right to use the mark on or in connection with the goods or services set forth in the registration.
Spinning
As a former employee of Mad Dogg I take umbrage in the lack of knowledge here pertaining to some of the comments in this thread. While the term spinning is related to cycling outdoors, Spinning was also the term coined by Johnny Goldberg and John Baudhuin in the early 90's (even late 1980's Johnny was teaching Spinning in his garage), the creators and brains behind group indoor cycling to brand this type of group fitness exercise. The term was trademarked so that it would distinguish them from competitive brands that would obviously come along in the future. Spinning is a very specific program based on hand position, cadence, specific movements, etc. The Spinner bike and the program go hand in hand. When you partake in a Spinning class, you know you are getting quality instruction that is safe. There are some crazy instructors out there who have no training whatsover but call themselves spinning instructors. Why would Mad Dogg want to ruin their good reputation because someone thinks that spinning is generic. It is very difficult for Mad Dogg to police the world to make sure their trademark is not being misused. It's when someone makes them aware of the misuse that they contact the faciltiy or company only to educate tehm and ask they stop misusing their trademark. As they are the trademark owner, it is law that allows them to protect their brand, just as Apple (another "word" that has been trademarkd) is allowed to protect their brand of computer...just saying