IP Post 1: Obama Bin Laden Trademark Denied

Floridian Alexandre Batlle's application to trademark the name "Obama Bin Laden" was denied by the Patent and Trademark Office last Tuesday. Allegedly, the mark "Obama Bin Laden" is a play on the name of Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D), a candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, and Osama Bin Laden, the alleged leader of Al Qaeda, terrorist mastermind, and inspiration for a thousand 24 episodes and myriad rip-offs of said TV show.

Karen Bush, a lawyer for the Office gave three reasons for the denial: laws barring the creation of "scandalous" trademarks, prohibitions against "false associations," and the lack of consent from either Sen. Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden to use their names. A copy of the rejection letter can be found here. [Courtesy of The Smoking Gun].

Mr. Batlle has said that the denial of the trademark will not deter him, and that he will forge forward (sans trademark) in producing T-shirts, mugs, and various other forms of knick knacks and kitsch with this cheeky image emblazoned on them.



Mr. Batlle's website is here.

Hat-tip to New York Times, their article is here.