IP Funny -- Intellectual Property Humor

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Vulgar trademarks?

Apparently the French word “orgy/group sex” is a registered trademark in Japan:

Original:  http://museedesmarques.ouvaton.org/index.php/2006/02/09/391-partouze

Translated to English:  http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmuseedesmarques.ouvaton.org%2Findex.php%2F2006%2F02%2F09%2F391-partouze&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&safe=off&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

In the US, Marty Schwimmer has coverage of the troubles “Invisiples” had with their trademark registration:  http://www.schwimmerlegal.com/archives/2004/03/oh_brother.html

Can I get an opinion on how narrow this trademark would be???

76-068295

THE LEGEND OF THE DUCKS HOW DID THE TRADITION OF THE DUCKS IN THE PEABODY FOUNTAIN BEGIN? BACK IN THE 1930'S FRANK SHUTT, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PEABODY, AND A FRIEND, CHIP BARWICK, RETURNED FROM A WEEKEND HUNTING TRIP TO ARKANSAS. THE MEN HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH TENNESSEE SIPPIN' WHISKEY, AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY TO PLACE SOME OF THEIR LIVE DUCK DECOYS (IT WAS LEGAL THEN FOR HUNTERS TO USE LIVE DECOYS) IN THE BEAUTIFUL PEABODY FOUNTAIN. THREE SMALL ENGLISH CALL DUCKS WERE SELECTED AS GUINEA PIGS, AND THE REACTION WAS NOTHING SHORT OF ENTHUSIASTIC. THUS BEGAN A PEABODY TRADITION WHICH WAS TO BECOME INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS. THE ORIGINAL DUCKS HAVE LONG SINCE GONE, BUT AFTER MORE THAN 60 YEARS, THE MARBLE FOUNTAIN IN THE HOTEL LOBBY IS STILL GRACED WITH DUCKS. TODAY, THE MALLARDS ARE RAISED BY A LOCAL FARMER AND FRIEND OF THE HOTEL. THE DUCKS LIVE IN THE FOUNTAIN UNTIL THEY ARE FULL GROWN AND, ON RETIREMENT FROM THEIR PEABODY DUTIES, ARE RETURNED TO THE WILD. THE PEABODY DUCKS MARCH AT 11:00 AM AND 5:00 PM DAILY.

Buck Naked Burritos?

PHOSITA blog on buck nekkid burrito trademarks. 

Trademark Blog on: Trademark Law

Trademark Blog on:  Trademark Law and Adult Novelties

See-through pants

TTAB Blog with a post on trade [un]dress.

When I was growing up, if people could see your a$$ or your underwear through holes in your pants, you were poor, not stylish.  Sheesh!

Thank God I'm not a nurse

Reason #1 to not go to nursing school (read the description of goods).  If that didn't gross you out, here are the "how to use" instructions from their website.  Of course, it is patented (USPN 6,517,562). 
[Thanks to an IPF reader for the lead.]

French trademark humor

Frédéric Glaize at http://www.museedesmarques.org suggested a few of his prior posts on humorous trademarks as of interest to IP Funny readers:

• http://museedesmarques.ouvaton.org/index.php/2004/10/12/30-chapeau-porte-voix [English Translation]
• http://museedesmarques.ouvaton.org/index.php/2004/10/18/45-crazy-horse [English Translation]
• http://museedesmarques.ouvaton.org/index.php/2004/08/27/4-cultivateur-de-savons-a-poils [English Translation]

Don't read French?  Try Google's translator page.  Thanks Frédéric!