A Sad Day Of Regression For Geek Girls Everywhere...
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May 20 2010, 8:05 AM
Today I read that Sydney-based IT consultant Kate Carruthers and Melbourne-based creator of the world's first online cyber-feminist magazine Rosie Cross are fighting over the legal ownership of “geekgirls” and “geekgirls”.
Here’s an excerpt from ZDNet:
Cross first lodged the trademark "geekgirl" with the Australian trademark office IP Australia on 14 July 1995 for the "publication of electronic books, magazines and/or multimedia both online on a communications network and on recorded media including optical disks and magnetic media".
She then lodged a further "geekgirl" trademark on 27 November later that year for "electronic/multimedia publications on recorded media (audio, video or text)".
Both of Cross' trademarks were approved and are protected by the trademark office.
However, on 28 January of this year, Carruthers lodged the trademark "geekgirl" as well as its plural "geekgirls". It is yet to be approved, and according to IP Australia's site, is still "under examination" by examiner Mark Lowe.
Carruthers' trademark lodgement was for the "arranging of exhibitions for cultural purposes; cultural activities; management of cultural events; providing information, including online, about education, training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities; social club services (entertainment, sporting and cultural services)".
Carruthers told ZDNet Australia that she lodged the "geekgirl" trademark with IP Australia because the term "geekgirl" was being commonly used in general conversations or as a Twitter hashtag by a "number of women". Those women had been advised by Cross to stop doing so since she owned the trademark for the word, she said.
One of those told to not use the term by Cross was Carruthers herself.
"The only correspondence that she has had with me directly was via Twitter where she noted her trademark and asked me to stop calling myself a 'geekgirl' in general conversation and to cease using the hashtag '#geekgirl' on Twitter," Carruthers said.
"At that time I did not enter into a conversation with her, instead I unfollowed and blocked her so that she could no longer contact me via Twitter."
First of all, since when can “geek girl” become a trademark anyway? This is like Lindsay Lohan trying to sue Etrade for their super bowl ad using the name “Lindsay.”
Ridiculous.
So does this mean that I can Trademark the word “geek” because I am one, or maybe I should TM “nerd” or “girl” or “female” for that matter.
In my opinion, this type of legal garbage is a stain on the geek culture. We are a group of intelligent, creative, progressive women, who in my experience, are the most caring and supportive female group in existence.
Boo to you Cross. And as a representative of the geek girl society, I hereby revoke your membership for being ridiculous.
Today I read that Sydney-based IT consultant Kate Carruthers and Melbourne-based creator of the world's first online cyber-feminist magazine Rosie Cross are fighting over the legal ownership of “geekgirls” and “geekgirls”.
Here’s an excerpt from ZDNet:
Cross first lodged the trademark "geekgirl" with the Australian trademark office IP Australia on 14 July 1995 for the "publication of electronic books, magazines and/or multimedia both online on a communications network and on recorded media including optical disks and magnetic media".
She then lodged a further "geekgirl" trademark on 27 November later that year for "electronic/multimedia publications on recorded media (audio, video or text)".
Both of Cross' trademarks were approved and are protected by the trademark office.However, on 28 January of this year, Carruthers lodged the trademark "geekgirl" as well as its plural "geekgirls". It is yet to be approved, and according to IP Australia's site, is still "under examination" by examiner Mark Lowe.
Carruthers' trademark lodgement was for the "arranging of exhibitions for cultural purposes; cultural activities; management of cultural events; providing information, including online, about education, training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities; social club services (entertainment, sporting and cultural services)".
Carruthers told ZDNet Australia that she lodged the "geekgirl" trademark with IP Australia because the term "geekgirl" was being commonly used in general conversations or as a Twitter hashtag by a "number of women". Those women had been advised by Cross to stop doing so since she owned the trademark for the word, she said.
One of those told to not use the term by Cross was Carruthers herself.
"The only correspondence that she has had with me directly was via Twitter where she noted her trademark and asked me to stop calling myself a 'geekgirl' in general conversation and to cease using the hashtag '#geekgirl' on Twitter," Carruthers said.
"At that time I did not enter into a conversation with her, instead I unfollowed and blocked her so that she could no longer contact me via Twitter."
First of all, since when can “geek girl” become a trademark anyway? This is like Lindsay Lohan trying to sue Etrade for their super bowl ad using the name “Lindsay.”
Ridiculous.
So does this mean that I can Trademark the word “geek” because I am one, or maybe I should TM “nerd” or “girl” or “female” for that matter.
In my opinion, this type of legal garbage is a stain on the geek culture. We are a group of intelligent, creative, progressive women, who in my experience, are the most caring and supportive female group in existence.
Boo to you Cross. And as a representative of the geek girl society, I hereby revoke your membership for being ridiculous.
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