Why is "Woman-ese" censored?

[Deep Dish]

Go try looking up any post on woman-ese (except minus the hyphen) or type it in anywhere. As of this moment, the word is as obscene as fvck, shyt, c0ck, and any other word which takes a liking to ********.

Has a feminist conspiracy infiltrated sosuave.com?

:crackup:

 

[Scrumtulescence]

Because the mods had nothing better to do?

 

[RedPill]

My guess would be one of the sponsers of the main site has a copyright on the term and would not like to see it used unless it's in conjunction with their materials... but I have no real idea.

 

[Create Reality]

******** womenese

 

[Desdinova]

My guess would be one of the sponsers of the main site has a copyright on the term and would not like to see it used unless it's in conjunction with their materials...

You are correct. Apparently, the person who has a trademark on the term didn't appreciate it being used on the forum.

 

[squirrels]

You are correct. Apparently, the person who has a trademark on the term didn't appreciate it being used on the forum.

You can trademark something like that??

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

I'm tradmarking AFC, DJ and HB next,..bwahahaha! I'm brilliant!

 

[Desdinova]

You can trademark something like that??

Of course you can. If you want a good example, look at Met*llica.

(word sensored so Allen doesn't get sued by the band)

 

[Ice Cold]

Who owns the trademark?

 

[Deep Dish]

Out of skepticism, because who bothers to check credentials, I looked it up and surprisingly enough there indeed is a registered trademark. According to the USPTO:

Goods and Services: Educational services, namely, providing seminars, classes, workshops in the field of communications, specifically communicative distinctions between men and women; educational services, namely, conducting on-line exhibitions and displays and interactive exhibits in the field of communications, specifically communicative distinctions between men and women; development and dissemination of educational materials of others in the field of communications, specifically communicative distinctions between men and women. FIRST USE: 1999-07-21. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 1999-09-15

Serial Number: 78702897
Filing Date: August 29, 2005

Registration Number: 3157412
Registration Date: October 17, 2006
Owner: LINGUISTIC DYNAMICS, INC. CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE SAC AND FOX NATION BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT OF 2000 BY THE SAC AND FOX NATION, A UNITED STATES FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBE UNITED STATES, LAS VEGAS NEVADA 89134

It's owned by an Indian tribe?

Well, guys, it's official. I announce to hold trademark over p*ssy (both the uncensored and censored version )

 

[Bible_Belt]

I have an IP law final next week

Trademark’s main purpose is to identify the SOURCE of goods or services
Guiding principle of TM law = CONSUMER PERCEPTION

II What can be a mark
A Names, symbols, logos, company names, slogans or phrases
B Also colors, fragrances, sounds — so long as the mark serves the purpose of conveying the SOURCE of the goods

 

[DJDamage]

Fine then I will use womenese and everyone will still know what it means so big fvcking deal. I still don't know how can someone own a word.

 

[Ice Cold]

I don't get it... why ban it on the forum. A lot of words can be and ARE trademarked... doesn't mean it's an automatic infingement.

I can say canon and nikon... and "american standard" on here. IPod... All of those words are trademarked. Yet, I can't say woomanese?

it's really interesting

 

[RedPill]

I don't get it... why ban it on the forum. A lot of words can be and ARE trademarked... doesn't mean it's an automatic infingement.

I can say canon and nikon... and "american standard" on here. IPod... All of those words are trademarked. Yet, I can't say woomanese?

it's really interesting

Ice, are you aware of what purpose this place serves? Take a look at the links at the very top of this page. And then take a look at the dozens of new threads on the main discussion forum. And then look at the .com page. And look at the main forum again. And then do a Google search for "picking up women". And then click on the main forum again.

Proverb: When he who has the information meets he who has the money, he who has the money shall have information and he who has the information shall have money. (And he who contributes significant money-per-click can have his proprietary information changed into asterisks, Asian symbols, or little tiny vagina-looking characters if he so desires to maintain the exlcusivity of its use - hypothetically speaking, of course)

 

[Ice Cold]

I'm have no clue when it comes to law man. It's all so very convoluted.

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

I'm now charging a nominal fee of 5 cents for every instance someone uses my trademarked term Average Frustrated Chump (and it's derivative abreviation, AFC).

Don't worry, I accept PayPal.

 

[Scrumtulescence]

Looks like they also banned the word "outw@ards". What kind of retarded sh1t is this? I get the feeling thinking up random words to censor is the only entertainment the admins have during the day. Losers.

 

[JesterX]

****ing ******ds ******** bull****.

we should dedicate a thread to every censored word.

 

[JesterX]

oops

 

[Deep Dish]

In regards to trademark law, there's not much standing in the way of mentioning Woman-ese despite the trademark owners unfavorable feelings of its usage on this site. I can respect Allen's respecting the owner's request but that won't stop me from sidestepping the censor.

From "Fair Use of Trademarks":

An author's use of a trademark for the above-referenced situations should be considered a non-confusing "nominative use" when it meets the following requirements: (1) the trademark owner's product or service must be one that is not readily identifiable without the use of the trademark; (2) the author only uses as much of the trademark as is reasonably necessary to identify the trademark owner's products or services; and (3) the author does nothing that would, in conjunction with the trademark, suggest to the reader sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark owner.

(1) That's easily accomplished. When the general public thinks "Woman-ese" they probably don't think of that commercial service. They didn't even invent the word but just snagged it out of the public domain. In fact, I can prove the term pre-dates the registration by at least four years. Go to Google.com and search their USENET archive for the term. (I can't directly link because of the censor).

(2) That's easy. References are sporadic.

(3) That's easy. Do you ever see any posts which suggest Woman-ese as a product? Also, this is a forum, unofficial commentary, not the main site.

Furthermore, trademarks have been nulllified by the courts if the term is used commonly enough by the public and a good example is the word jello. Perform a Google search for "woman-ese" (530 results) and see just how many references are made regarding the registered service. Only two that I can find.

In summary, the legal basis of the trademark is flimsy and it's in my Fair Use to use the term. I respect Allen for honoring the request but I don't share the respect for the trademark owner. Hell, probably the only reason why the owner requested its removal on here is because their business is sluggish.