As I mentioned the other day here, the University of Utah has taken issue with the use by HBO of the University’s logo in an episode of the show “Big Love.”
The use at issue involves a scene in which the University’s logo is shown on a fictional report by one of the University’s research laboratories which reportedly authenticates an historical letter from former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Wilford Woodruff that legitimizes the practice of polygamy.
The Univesity asserts producers used the logo without permission and demands that HBO delete the shot in all future airings of the episode and on the upcoming DVD release. HBO has taken the position that “nothing in the program vioalates anyone’s rights, and HBO will respond in due course.”
Owners of a salon in Rockaway, NJ, called “Moulin Rouge” have agreed to change the salon’s name after receiving a cease and desist letter from the owner of several federal trademark registrations for the mark MOULIN ROUGE.
According to the Daily Record.com, the change in signage, business cards, etc is expected to cost about $10,000. The attorney for the registrant said she discovered the infringing use by using Internet search engines. Owners of the salon reportedly checked NJ state records to see if the name was available but they didn’t check the US Trademark Office database. The attorney representing the salon said, “It’s not common to look up a patent [sic] when starting a company in New Jersey . . . I think I’ll advise all future clients to do so.” Good advice; especially if they’re going to have a presence on the Internet. Needless to say, a quick knockout trademark search can be done for much less than $10,000.
University of Utah no love for “Big Love”
July 7, 2009
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the University of Utah has demanded that HBO remove part of a scene from the show “Big Love” in which the University’s logo was shown on an official-looking document during an episode that aired in March.
