Thursday, July 7, 2011

How to protest AB trademarking our area code.

AB In-Bev wants to trademark a number of city area codes, and so here is the answer from the Patent and trademark office how to protest a trademark application:
(you can fax, or submit electronically)
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Dear Clif:

Thank you for contacting the Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) regarding how to protest a trademark application.

LETTER OF PROTEST:

You can file a letter of protest if you are claiming that a pending application is likely to cause confusion with your registered trademark or a trademark in your prior pending application (one that was filed before the application that you wish to challenge) or if there is some other reason you believe the trademark should not be registered.

FORMS:

You can fax your letters of protest to 571-273-0032 or you can file your letter of protest online through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/e-TEAS/index.html . You should click on the overall Petitions Forms category from the TEAS front page and then select form number 8 ( Letter of Protest ).

Enter the serial number (for '713' - serial number is: 85326005) of the application you wish to protest and click on the heading Petitions or similar matters. From the displayed pull-down menu, select the Letter of Protest option and then click the Next button.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

More information about letters of protest is available in Section 1715 of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) at http://tess2.uspto.gov/tmdb/tmep/1700.htm#_T1715 .

If you have any further questions or if you require additional information, please contact the Trademark Assistance Center at 571-272-9250 and press "0". You can reference the following Service Request number: 1-190834912.

Call to Ales

== written May 31st at the death of HB602

Friends, Texans, craft beer lovers indulge me for a moment.

While the anger and frustration we all feel at the loss of HB602 is more than justified, we need to organize our ire and direct our energies towards the positive. Reacting against state Senators is certainly a tempting option, but I believe working towards educating politicians and Texas beer drinkers to appreciate the local craft beer available in our state and the economic benefits gained in supporting Texas based industry will do far more for our cause.

Yes, on Thursday, May 26th, I did make a few angry phone calls myself, but in hindsight, I realize a better plan of action would be to sit down with my state Senator, buy him or her a Texas brewed craft beer and explain my position.

We have two years of time before the Texas Legislature returns to session, and I propose rather than martyr ourselves and further isolate ourselves from other beer drinkers, we should make use of this time by sharing a beer with someone who might dismiss us as "beer snobs".

I urge you to not see the end of HB602 as a resounding defeat, but instead accept the challenge of thinking local and encouraging others, even non-beer drinkers, to see how supporting the craft beer industry is a way to promote the great state of Texas.

Ultimately, this fight goes beyond a good pint and encourages us to buy local to boost our own economy. Along with shopping local and eating local, persuade others to drink local and we can start making the change that will force legislators to see how our Texas industries can do more for our state than outside, foreign corporations with deep pockets and ulterior motives.

Buying Texas born and brewed beer keeps our money in our economy.