Don't Mess With Texas?
Well, I just got the following email from CafePress today regarding my site that sells Texas themed merchandise:

In accordance with our Intellectual Property Rights Policy, Jennifer Soldano of the Texas Department of Transportation, provided us with a notice in which it alleged that an image used in your Shop infringes its intellectual property rights. Based on this notice, we removed your designs from our servers.

So now two states have wielded cease and desist notices against my Texas themed merchandise site. A few months ago a got a letter from CMG Worldwide, regarding a design I had that depicted "I [heart] TX". You see CMG represents the state of New York and they have a trademark on "I [heart] NY". Now the State of Texas is getting into the act.

Perhaps you may have seen some recent news about the Texas DOT's crackdown on CNN, CNBC or perhaps even on the Daily Show. Now here's the thing that bugs me, Texas registered the trademark in 2000 and then didn't pursue anyone until this year. Meaning, they let people use their slogan in order to build the value of the so-called "brand". Now the state is arguing that the slogan is too valuable and the mark must be protected. Well tomorrow I will contact them to investigate licensing options. I'd gladly send a portion of the profits to support Texas anti-litter activities. They're obviously either being selective in who they go after, or they're allowing people to license the design since prominent sites like Texas.com are selling products.

Otherwise this article this article gives me an idea for an alternate t-shirt design.

- posted by Drew @ 3:45 PM