Online Campaign Against Mattel Silenced by Questionable Trademark Claims

[kgrandia]

As part of Greenpeace’s Barbie campaign to draw attention to Mattel’s use of packaging connected to deforestation in Indonesia, Greenpeace USA ran satirical Facebook ads like the one above. After running the ads for three days, we received a notice late last night that the ads were being removed due to a third-party complaint on copyright infringement.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/news-and-blogs/campaign-blog/online-campaign-against-mattel-silenced-by-qu/blog/35241

According to our legal analysis prior to the campaign, this complaint to Facebook that Greenpeace violated trademark rights is a meritless attempt to stop us from conveying to the public the practices of Mattel that contribute to deforestation.

Greenpeace used Ken and Barbie in a satirical, noncommercial way, which falls outside of trademark protection.

This is an attempt to silence our right to free speech, the sharing of information on the internet and our work to make Mattel protect rainforests and the 400 remaining Sumatran tigers in the wild.

We are all being silenced by this action, so please join in telling Mattel’s CEO to cut his company’s ties to deforestation.

[abelenkpe]

1. Mattel won't use wood from alleged clear-cutter

Mattel won't use wood from alleged clear-cutter

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18246377


EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Mattel Inc. says it will stop using wood products from a Singapore company that's been accused of clear-cutting rain forests in Indonesia.

The toymaker says it's told packaging suppliers to stop using wood products from Asia Pulp & Paper while it investigates deforestation allegations.

The environmental group Greenpeace has been waging a campaign against Mattel for its packaging practices. A protest was held this week outside the company's El Segundo headquarters.

An APP executive, Ian Lifshitz, tells the Los Angeles Times that the clear-cutting allegations are baseless and the company is confident that Mattel's investigation will show its packaging is mostly from recycled sources.

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That last sentence is pretty disheartening, but at least they are saying they'll investigate. Greenpeace should make sure an independent investigation takes place too. Cause we all know when industry regulates and investigates itself nothing happens....I seem to remember a hole in the floor of the gulf of mexico from an industry that self regulated not to long ago....and a massive financial crisis from an industry that regulated itself.

[kgrandia]

2. Agreed

Still a long way to go here.

[abelenkpe]

3. Click here to take action DUers

https://secure3.convio.net/gpeace/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=855&s_src=landing&JServSessionIdr004=h5dgwjt346.app333a

Add your name to help convince Mattel to stop using Asia Pulp and Paper that contributes to rainforest destruction....please.