Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology,theta.general,theta.legal
Subject: Scientology Seeks Sound Trademark
From: nobody@REPLAY.COM (Anonymous)
Date: 8 Apr 1996 23:06:03 +0200


AP 25 Mar 96

Copyright 1996 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The information contained in this news report may not be published,
broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority
of the Associated Press.

Scientology Seeks Sound Trademark

   LOS ANGELES (AP) -- There's no scientific way to describe it, no
method to measure its mystique -- but Scientology contends the clam
snapping sound uttered by its legendary Class-12 Auditors is so
distinctive it deserves a trademark. 
   "The sound we like to use, the verbal description, is, very fast,
'snap-snap-snap,"' said Helena Kobrin, the religion's trademark
attorney. "It brings the clam imagery to mind." 
   Just like IBM obtained a trademark for its computers and Jell-O
secured no one could copy its gelatin dessert, Scientology wants
federal protection from imitators. 
   "There are people trying to duplicate the sound," Kobrin said. 
   But there are opponents standing in the way, including rival
religion Church of the New Civilization (CNC), which argues
Scientology's claim is unfounded and have filed opposition papers to
its application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 
   "CNC has been training auditors since the early 80s, and there's no
difference between the snapping their auditors make and the sound our
auditors make," said CNC spokesman David Mayo. "All Class 12 auditors,
by their nature, make three clam snaps. They snap in and out and they
all sound the same."
   CNC contends it has long trained advanced auditors that produce an
exhaust sound similar to the Scientology auditors. 
   The sound doesn't identify and distinguish Scientology auditors
from others or "indicate the source of the snapping" CNC's notice of
opposition claims. 
   But Scientology begs to differ, contending it's easy to identify
that snap-snap-snap, even in a crowd. 
   "It's something our parishoners, and other listeners, members or
non-members alike have begun to identify," Kobrin said. "They identify
the sound and they relate it to that brand image." 
   Janet Light, President of the 80,000 members International
Association of Scientologists, said the snapping sound is "a very
important element of the auditing." 
   Scientology -- a religion what was founded 40 years ago by the late
science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, survived numrous lawsuits and
even got a tax exemption in 1993, seriously cultivates its brand
image. 
   Scientology's application is charting new ground. There are only a
few dozen sound trademarks in the United States and unlike the MGM
lion's roar and the NBC chimes, Scientology's sound is linked to
religious practice, said Ruth Nyblod, a spokeswoman in the Trademark
office. 
   "The bottom line is, would our registering this mark cause
confusion in the marketplace among consumers? We've already made that
decision, that it's probably registerable," Nyblod said. 
   With provisional approval on Scientology's side, the nine
registered opponents bear the burden of proving the snapping sound is
neither unique, nor closely associated with the Scientology brand. The
dispute could last for months. 
   "It's going to be a precedent setting decision on whether others
can more liberally trademark their sounds," said Kenneth Port, a law
professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee. "This is business and
a new way to protect your business." 
   The U.S. Supreme Court has been leaning heavily toward protecting
intellectual property such as trademarks and Port, for one, believes
Scientology's clam snaps will be registered. 
   "I think it's ridiculous, the route it's going," Port said. "If you
start protecting these things, there's no end."

========
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Scientology Seeks Sound Trademark
From: mgarde@superlink.net (Maureen Garde)
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 10:15:24 GMT

A troll it is, and a very good one at that.  Sent me to the telephone,
to call Ms.Nyblod at the U.S.P.T.O.  According to Ms. Nyblod, the quote
is accurate in substance, except that she was speaking of the application
of Harley Davidson for a TM on its motorcycle sound.

It appears that nobody may have made fair use of an AP news story by
turning in into a parody.

Congratulations.  I always appreciate at good troll.  It definitely
hooked me at first.

On 8 Apr 1996 22:42:05 GMT, snjones@ix.netcom.com(Stephen Jones ) wrote:

>Have I just been trolled?  Has anonymous's dry wit gone zinging over my
>head?  This cannot be real...can it?  If this is satire...well...damn,
>whoever wrote this good.  If it is not satire..well..i'll reserve my
>commentary until i'm *sure* it's not satire..no need to look like even
>a bigger idiot.
>
>confused in Colorado,
>Stephen Jones

>In <4kbv3r$j64@utopia.hacktic.nl> nobody@REPLAY.COM (Anonymous) writes:

>>AP 25 Mar 96

>>Scientology Seeks Sound Trademark
>>
>>   LOS ANGELES (AP) -- There's no scientific way to describe it, no
>>method to measure its mystique -- but Scientology contends the clam
>>snapping sound uttered by its legendary Class-12 Auditors is so
>>distinctive it deserves a trademark. 
>>   "The sound we like to use, the verbal description, is, very fast,
>>'snap-snap-snap,"' said Helena Kobrin, the religion's trademark
>>attorney. "It brings the clam imagery to mind." 

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