Facebook To Trademark "Face"

Facebook has received notice that they are about to own the trademark on the word "face" whenever it is used in a social media context. There goes your idea for GayFace.com.

The trademark covers the word face only in the context of “telecommunication services, namely, providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among computer users in the field of general interest and concerning social and entertainment subject matter, none primarily featuring or relating to motoring or to cars,” the pending document reads. While the context in which the trademark can be enforced is quite narrow, it’s still scary to see Facebook owning a trademark for a term as general as “face.”

The company is also working to own the word "book" for social media purposes and has filed suit against a site calling itself Teachbook.

NEW YORK CITY: Marine Corps Wrestles Name Back From Gay Holiday Toy Drive

For 25 years one of the glitziest events on NYC's homo holiday calendar has been the Toys For Tots party at Chelsea Piers, where the gay glitterati gather to booze, schmooze, and deliver mountains of new toys for the city's needy kids. As a Marine brat who went to USMC Toys For Tots events back in the 60's, I've always thought it was neat that the Marines let the gays use their famous (and trademarked) 63 year-old name for the event. Well, that's over.

A glitzy "Toys for Tots" charity party underwent a name change Tuesday after a stern reprimand from the Marines. The annual bash at Chelsea Piers is organized by gay men, not the U.S. Marine Corps, which uses the name for its own well-known toy drive. The Marines, which will field 1 million requests for toys in the city this year, doesn't get donations from the party, which draws A-listers like Mayor Bloomberg. "I want people to understand that when they donate to Toys for Tots that they are donating to the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and the reputation it carries with that name," said Staff Sgt. Ivan Lebron, coordinator of the Toys for Tots NYC campaign.

The creator of the Chelsea Piers event says that he just "pulled the name out of a hat" back in 1985. Right. The new name for the gay event, which will take place as planned on December 3rd, is "Holiday Gifts for Children and Seniors." Oy.

Subway: We Own The Word "Footlong"

Subway has sent cease and desist letters to mom & pop sandwich shops around the nation demanding that they stop using the word "footlong" to describe anything on their menus that is...footlong.

"You are hereby put on notice to cease and desist from using FOOTLONG (TM) association with sandwiches. You must immediately remove all references to FOOTLONG (TM) in association with sandwiches." NPR asked Subway to explain itself and got this response: "Any legal process we go through is to protect the investment our franchisees have made in the brand," Kane told me. "If 'footlong' is a name that's been associated with us, it would benefit them that we would take an action like this to protect the association."

Read one of the letters here. (PDF)