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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: Aimless on 19 Oct 2014, 05:38

Title: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Aimless on 19 Oct 2014, 05:38
Okay, not important, but it's captured my imagination: can Jeph trademark "crisis wine" and "emergency bourbon" and get mega-rich by licensing them out to unscruplous booze corporations?
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: MooskiNet on 19 Oct 2014, 06:23
Judging from the use of the words 'trademark','licensing', and 'unscrupulous booze corporations,' I'd go with an unqualified "Yes."
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 19 Oct 2014, 08:22
Emergency bourbon: If you don't have an emergency when you start, you will when you're done. Guaranteed.
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: snarkyone on 19 Oct 2014, 08:36
No he can't because they are not brand names or actual products.   If his brand was "Crisis" or "Emergency" and that was a licensed product then yes.    Generic words can only be used in conjunction with distinct brand names.   I'd almost wager that Emergency Bourbon would be rejected because it's not distinct enough.
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Mr_Rose on 19 Oct 2014, 09:24
Also he probably couldn't sell any alcoholic beverage labelled "emergency" etc. in the EU due to regulations treating the sale of intoxicants as (implied) medication in much the same way as the police treat someone shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre.
Not that the French, Germans, or Czechs would buy American "wine" anyway…
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 19 Oct 2014, 09:38
Not that the French, Germans, or Czechs would buy American "wine" anyway…
More out of a sense of cultural chauvinism than the actual quality of the wine, I take it. (Some California wines have won awards in Europe, to the horror of many, including the tasters when they found out where their favorite was from.)
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 19 Oct 2014, 13:33
Lots and lots of accessible information about trademark law (http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Legal-Care-Business-Product/dp/141331256X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413750734&sr=8-2&keywords=nolo+press+trademark).
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Neko_Ali on 19 Oct 2014, 13:43
He could always market novelty joke labels or sleeves to go around bottles. :)
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Zebediah on 19 Oct 2014, 13:49
I also recall Jeph putting a "Random IPA" label on a beer bottle somewhere. That one would probably sell.
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Aimless on 19 Oct 2014, 14:14
I must confess this wasn't an inquiry so much as a veiled request for "crisis wine" and "emergency bourbon" labels :o
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Oct 2014, 15:29
They make label sheets for printers - make your own! 

Just... don't sell them.  That would be Questionable. 
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Aimless on 19 Oct 2014, 15:36
Warning: contents are Questionable
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Oct 2014, 15:54
Not that the French, Germans, or Czechs would buy American "wine" anyway…
More out of a sense of cultural chauvinism than the actual quality of the wine, I take it. (Some California wines have won awards in Europe, to the horror of many, including the tasters when they found out where their favorite was from.)

Europe is only the center of the wine world these days out of said cultural chauvinism and tradition. The new world, as always, has eclipsed the old.
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: hedgie on 19 Oct 2014, 16:01
Not when it comes to whisky.  I generally can't stand the stuff that's made outside of "Old World" countries like Scotland and Japan.
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Rimwolf on 19 Oct 2014, 19:05
Don't forget Moar Beer!
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: ankhtahr on 20 Oct 2014, 01:34
Would "Midnight Hobo" be unique enough to qualify for a trademark?
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Oct 2014, 08:26
It woould actually make a good name for a dark beer...
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Thrudd on 20 Oct 2014, 13:27
oh gawwwwd - someone beat us to it with something questionable in quality or funny.

http://www.cafepress.ca/+midnight-hobo+bottle-labels (http://www.cafepress.ca/+midnight-hobo+bottle-labels)

(http://i1.cpcache.com/product/1128973816/midnight_hobo_beer_label.jpg?color=White&height=460&width=460&qv=90)
Title: Re: Important Trademark Question
Post by: Storel on 20 Oct 2014, 15:05
Not to carp or criticize, but that looks a lot more like a clown than a hobo to me...