I Don't Mind Being Poor, Anymore

 I Don't Mind Being Poor, "Anymore"

by Guy Guy 

Just got this email:

Hi Sue,

I've been reading up on protesting in your blog for a while now - this is a great resource for someone like me, a young activist.  I had been inspired as a musician to write about this movement, and thought you might be interested to hear that yesterday I released my first solo single on YouTube, and it has been getting a great reaction. I go by Guy Guy, and the music is bare-bones, toe-tapping, sing-a-long folk/country. I will be raising funds through kickstarter soon for a full-length record to be recorded in an abandoned hotel in rural Quebec this summer.  I will also be working with great producers and renowned folk musicians, including my father,  a former staple in the Philadelphia folk community. I am known as a drummer throughout the Philly scene, and this is my debut as a songwriter.

The song addresses the serious issue of American poverty in a satire designed to empower newly-impoverished folks. The concept for the accompanying video is a statement on technocracy, physical locations of the poor, and the impermanence of wealth.  The values of the song speak to the Occupy Movement's messages, but in an empowering and positive light, as opposed to the embittered and aggressive, almost-reactionary tone of some factions of the movement. It was recorded in Montreal, QC and mastered by acclaimed mastering-tech Ryan Morey (Arcade Fire, Beck, etc.).

Thanks very much for listening, and if you had any questions about the song, please feel free to contact me.  Keep on blogging, I love the posts!

Best,

Guy Guy

Trademarks and Occupy Protests

Trademarks and Occupy Protests

by Sue Basko

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database shows many applicants hoping to register Occupy-related words and marks.  While some of these seem legit, many of these are offensive attempts to wrest control of organizations and ideas, to try to create a monopoly or to try to gain ownership of an entity by coming in through the back door of trademark ownership.  None of these is an acceptable usage of trademark.  Most of these applications are likely to be denied.  The application process takes about 18 months or longer - it is a complex process with several big steps to it.

 During the application process, Occupy groups whose names are being usurped should strongly consider filing formal objections.   A lawyer can help with this. The groups that I noticed that should be paying attention now are Occupy Los Angeles, Occupy Las Vegas,  Occupy Wall Street,  Occupy Together, and Occupy Congress.

Also, there is some media group making a preposterous bid to trademark the word "occupy" for books, websites, and on and on to cover almost every form of media where one might discuss political change. This is such a broad, outlandish filing that it will be fun to watch it get demolished bit by bit.  

The Occupy groups should also strongly consider  registering trademark on their own names, if only to ward off these situations.

Trademark is tricky.  I  suggest using an experienced  lawyer.  I do the registrations, and I can tell you -- it is rugged terrain with a lot of potential trouble.


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