Re: the trademark dust up: Erik and our Super Lawyer, Corynne McSherry, were quoted on the California Report today, along with Ruby from the Institute of Urban Homesteading.
Re: the trademark dust up: Erik and our Super Lawyer, Corynne McSherry, were quoted on the California Report today, along with Ruby from the Institute of Urban Homesteading.
Thanks for keeping us posted. Keep on keepin on!
It still really angers me that a phrase in common usage can be trademarked. I hope you guys kick their butts.
Yep, I heard it on the way into work this morning. Glad to see this is getting more attention. Of course, I was thinking to myself, I heard it here first, weeks ago! 🙂
I heard this on my way to work this morning on kpcc. loved what you had to say Erik
excelente!
ur·ban adj ˈər-bən
Definition of URBAN
: of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city
1home·stead noun ˈhōm-ˌsted, -stid
Definition of HOMESTEAD
1a : the home and adjoining land occupied by a family b : an ancestral home c : house
Definition of HOMESTEAD
transitive verb
: to acquire or occupy as a homestead
intransitive verb
: to acquire or settle on land under a homestead law
— home·stead·er -ˌste-dər noun
AS DEFINED by Merriam-Webster (online). So how is it that descriptive words of a way of life can be owned? Can Mc Donalds own “hamburger” can Taco Bell own “burrito”? NO NO NO NO!!!!
To Hades with them. They, once my inspiration, have grown too large for their body. They are nothing but EGO now.
I AM AN URBAN HOMESTEADER LIVING ON AN URBAN HOMESTEAD.
This is madness. Total madness. Thanks for the update.
On a related note, there is a book out called Freedom of Expression (TM) where the author writes about the extreme length of silliness we have gone to in regard to trademarking phrases. He personally holds the trademark on the words Freedom of Expression. Throughout the book the phrase Freedom of Expression is followed by the trademark symbol. It is am amusing, sad little commentary. While we need to protect ideas there are some phrases and ideas that are so old, generic, and commonsense as to belong to all of us.
I recently started on my homesteading path. I bumped into the story of this trademark craziness by accident…which lead me to your blog and book! I bought your awesome book and really enjoy your blog. Thank you!!