'last best place'

[briannell]

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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[rtb]

This dude from Las Vegas really makes me mad. I don't mind wealthy people moving to Montana and enjoying it for the same reasons we all love it, but when you start getting gready and turn everything into a profit for you little ranch you go too far!!

When this guy first bought the ranch he tried to keep it running as a cattle ranch but he was mistreating his cattle and basically running the thing into the ground. Now that he has his dude ranch open things look better, but then he goes and tries to screw the state of Montana and steal a slogan that he had no part in creating.

For the sake of Montana I hope everyone recommends that no one stay at this dude ranch and he goes out of business. I am sure he will still keep his land, but this is one of very few people I would love to see run out of Montana....who's with me?

[Ponycat]

A good buddy of mine managed his place for a short time but once he got there he couldn't get out fast enough. He was making a mint but couldn't stand it so left. I don't think I've ever heard him say one good thing about this guy.

[iaafan]

Good idea Denny. Did ya come up with this on yer own?