'last best place'
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:43 am
Rehberg urges protest of 'Last Best Place' trademarks
By ROBERT STRUCKMAN of the Missoulian
U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg is encouraging Montana residents and business owners to protest a handful of trademark applications for the phrase "The Last Best Place."
David E. Lipson, a Las Vegas businessman who owns the Resort at Paws Up, has applied for eight registered trademarks for the phrase. If granted, the trademarks would give him exclusive right to the phrase for a broad array of commercial uses.
That's not OK by Rehberg, said the Republican congressman's chief of staff, Erik Iverson.
"Montana means something in the marketplace. The Last Best Place is part of our identity. It is part of our brand," Iverson said.
Rehberg's staff has contacted the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is pursuing ways to block the trademark applications. Rehberg also wants to hear from business owners who believe they would be negatively affected if Lipson's applications become registered trademarks.
"Denny wanted a way for Montanans to weigh in on this," Iverson said.
Rehberg began looking into Lipson's application after his Montana offices fielded several dozen phone calls from the public.
"We need a case file. That's why it's important for the state of Montana to weigh in," Iverson said.
To file an official protest, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the Internet at:
estta.uspto.gov - electronic filing
www.uspto.gov/web/
forms/index.html#startforms - forms page
www.uspto.gov/web/forms/
oppositionformat.pdf - specific form
To register a protest, write to Commissioner for Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451.
For more information, call Rehberg staff member Jaime Ramsey at
(202) 225-3211.
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By ROBERT STRUCKMAN of the Missoulian
U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg is encouraging Montana residents and business owners to protest a handful of trademark applications for the phrase "The Last Best Place."
David E. Lipson, a Las Vegas businessman who owns the Resort at Paws Up, has applied for eight registered trademarks for the phrase. If granted, the trademarks would give him exclusive right to the phrase for a broad array of commercial uses.
That's not OK by Rehberg, said the Republican congressman's chief of staff, Erik Iverson.
"Montana means something in the marketplace. The Last Best Place is part of our identity. It is part of our brand," Iverson said.
Rehberg's staff has contacted the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is pursuing ways to block the trademark applications. Rehberg also wants to hear from business owners who believe they would be negatively affected if Lipson's applications become registered trademarks.
"Denny wanted a way for Montanans to weigh in on this," Iverson said.
Rehberg began looking into Lipson's application after his Montana offices fielded several dozen phone calls from the public.
"We need a case file. That's why it's important for the state of Montana to weigh in," Iverson said.
To file an official protest, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the Internet at:
estta.uspto.gov - electronic filing
www.uspto.gov/web/
forms/index.html#startforms - forms page
www.uspto.gov/web/forms/
oppositionformat.pdf - specific form
To register a protest, write to Commissioner for Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451.
For more information, call Rehberg staff member Jaime Ramsey at
(202) 225-3211.
Subscribe to