Donald Trump Wants To Trademark "Your Fired!"

[matcom]

:eyes:

does this mean my boss can get sued if he ever says that to me?

<snip>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. fast food firm Wendy's asked diners "Where's the beef?," and Nike commanded sports nuts to "Just do it." Now Donald Trump is seeking to trademark another pithy phrase: "You're fired!"

The real-estate mogul and reality TV star has filed a trademark application for the phrase, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Web site.

Known for his gaudy casinos and unusual mane of copper hair, Trump dismisses underlings on the hit TV show "The Apprentice" with a curt "You're fired."

Trump said he intended to emblazon "You're Fired" on games and casino services, and "You're Fired! Donald J. Trump" on clothing

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=8&u=/nm/20040319/od_nm/odd_trump_dc

[gristy]

1. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=431550

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Does this mean that Mr. Spacely will now have to get permission from Trump

to use his signature phrase, "Jetson, you'rrrrrrrrrrrre fired!" ?

[terrya]

3. I don't know how you can trademark a phrase that's been around...

for a LONG time.

Terry

[Art_from_Ark]

4. In the pre-Bizarro world, it went without saying

that popular expressions couldn't be copyrighted because they were public domain. But we live in a world now where copyrights exist for 100+-year-old Peter Rabbit drawings, 75-year-old Mickey Mouse caaartoons, and even, apparently, the name of the governor of Florida.

[RoeBear]

5. My understanding is...

...they are only copywriting the commercial use of the phrase.

A TV show calling itself "You're Fired" would be a problem, an actor telling someone in the show that "You're Fired" would not be.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. Time to demand royalties ...

... from all that cave art in Southern France and Northern Spain.

It's my birthright, damn it!

--bkl

[BootinUp]

7. What will he think of next...

scuuuuuse meeeee. You don't own the English language Donnie. :eyes: