Obama Bin Laden mark refused

The IPKat learns from the New York Times that the USPTO has turned down a trade mark for the term OBAMA BIN LADEN – which combined the name of US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama and the well-known terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

The decision, rendered somewhat confusingly by an examiner named Bush, states that Bin Laden’s terrorist status renders the registration of his name scandalous. Moreover, neither Bin Laden nor Obama had given their consent to the use.

The IPKat, not by nature a prude, says that this is clearly the right decision. The IPKat doubts that the public would think that either Obama or Bin Laden had authorised products. However, whatever one’s views about Mr Obama’s politics, to associate him with a terrorist in order to ‘make a buck’ is crass and insensitive. He wonders idly though who it would easier to obtain consent from: Obama or Bin Laden?