Congratulations vigilant readers of this blog.
Today I received the following letter by email.
I responded as follows.
Dear Mr. Fransway,
Thank you for your letter and I appreciate your vigilance in protecting the trademarks of your client, the University of Michigan.
I am sure you are aware that the item I reprinted on my blog for satire purposes was published by the church of scientology and I was merely commenting on it. And in fact, it was readers of my blog that alerted the University to the infringement.
I would disagree that anyone would be confused between my activities and the University, but I certainly do not mind removing the alleged infringement from my blog, and in fact, have done so as you can see here. https://www.mikerindersblog.org/thursday-funnies-13/
The section I included that contained the infringement was taken from a larger piece, and therefore it might have been unclear where this came from. It was published by the Church of Scientology New York Continental Liaison Office 227 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.
Let me know if you have any further questions, or there is anything else I can do to assist in this matter.
Regards,
Mike Rinder
I was very pleased to receive the letter as I assume the church also got one, and thus the efforts of readers here to protect intellectual property rights from abuse by the church is having the appropriate effect.
You can see the now revised post with the notification of the removal of the infringement here.
UPDATE:
Mr . Fransway answered very quickly as follows:
Dear Mr. Rinder,
Thank you for your prompt response removing this piece from your website. As I am sure that you can appreciate, the University becomes concerned when anyone uses their identity or trademarks in a manner that implies some affiliation. As a public institution, they have a duty to the people of the state of Michigan to assure that the university’s identity is only used by those that are actually affiliated with it.
Thank you also for your reference to the source of the original material.
0 ; 1 for Mike!
The Big Ten and all of its affiliated schools have more $ than
Miscavige. He would never win a legal battle with the conference
or any of its schools.
Someone made an arrogant Boo Boo.
Keep them on post!
Nice! And such a lovely letter Mike, a little bit of justice.
Excellent job Mike, and to all the posters here. The Co$ cares nothing for anyone else’s trademarks or copyrights, We’ve seen dozens of mailers here and at the Bunker that rip off musicians’ songs, sports teams, comic super heroes, veterans organizations and so on. All in the name of hyping their ideal morgues and their faux statuses and gaudy bowling trophies. I expect a Shermanesque reply from them saying they have nothing to do in Michigan.
Nicely done, Mr Rinder !
What a brilliant turn of events. Of course handled with the wit and professionalism which has become your trademark. Kudos my friend.
“He who speaks out loudly in accusation”. The Church is one of the biggest infringers of copyright and TM transgressions out there. In South Africa they freely ignore these laws and gaily abuse intellectual property and at will to forward their cause – Our national Rugby Team/s, Disney Characters, using the name, photos and quotes of Nelson Mandela and other great leaders and the like. Bunch of hypocrites – good to see them getting a dose of their own medicine.
OK Mike, It did not strike a cord with me.
However,those goofy people in Gold sparkly jackets,
the jackets maybe patented and worn under exclusive leasing agreements
from D.M.
“Mister Miscavige had nothing to do with this alleged copyright infringement and has instructed one of his assistants to investigate the terminal(s) involved in this action and punish them accordingly. End of statement.” Karen Pouw, Chief Spokesperson for all things external
Mike, Very cool, you should have this lawyers letter framed.
I saw the article in question when it came out but honestly cannot recall what the infringed part was.
Now if that makes me more confused or less confused can be debated.
Was it a picture of a Wolverine ?
It’s always a good thing you have an active readership, keep up the good work !!!!!!!.
It was the block capital “M” with the block capital “MICHIGAN” underneath in maize and blue. Oddly, they were going against the Atlanta Falcons??? Apparently the NFL franchise is less concerned about their trademark that the UM. Though they may just sent their demand to the church as the correct target, knowing it would be a waste of time to attempt to get a reporter to take down something that they are reporting on which is classic “fair use.” But if I hear from the Falcons asking me to take down their logo, I will do so too as I don’t think it is worth arguing about. As long as they go after the real perpetrators of the infringement.
It is fair use, plus you’ve nicely limited liability as a “just in case later” with the first sentence in para three. My favorite part, tho is the lower case on the CoS name in para two-made me laugh harder, because of the potential butthurt factor re their own marks (eat mah fair use satire, motherfuckers.) 🙂
Mike, you kicked ass and took names! Well done!
Oh god, I can’t stop laughing!
Hummmmm…I wonder if “they” are pulling it in?
Nah… you think so?
I betcha there’s an earlier beginning… RS – yeah, what’s that?
Real people doing real business in the real world. Rock on, SPs. This so kicks ass, can’t stop smiling.
More infringement? Oh dear, they just can’t help themselves, can they…? Never to mind, I am sure the university will soon face the firing power of this fully funded church backed by its millions of members. It should be a cinch.
And the ‘mistakes’ keep rolling on and expanding within the church – another flap and, if I am correct, on this regard they are in affluence. Great Mike in directing them to the source of the trademark violation.
And the ‘mistakes’ keep rolling on and expanding within the church – another flap and, if I am correct, on this regard they are in affluence.
There’s their 47X expansion…lol
Ha! Love it! Since the Chult is so fond of plagiarizing and expropriating intellectual property, I’m going to do the same in my comment.
Mike and his sharp eyed readers ironically proved the Volunteer Ministers’ motto, “Something can be done about it” – unlike the VM themselves. This is another great example that illustrates how online, grassroot activism can be so effective. I have longed stopped underestimating the power of the individual, armed with only a keyboard and the internet, to effect change.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in making this happen.
Great!
Very nicely done Mike, I have always been pissed with their “don’t infringe our copyrights” while they rip off music at every opportunity for the propoganda videos (especially New Year events).
When I questioned it the answer was “they’re just wogs, who cares” Well guess what, “Wogs” do care. The more this is exposed the more it will deplete the midget’s resources with lawyer fees.
Stay vigilant everyone, report all abuses to the correct authorities, every little bit helps the demise.
Yay Mike!! Score one big one for the good guys.
The cult breaks so many copyright laws, wonder why they have not been investigated by the FCC.
You’re thinking of the FTC. FCC is in charge of the radio, TV, and other types of broadcast communication.
Best remedy for A-E is A-F.
@Rachel, above
ROFLMAO! YOU ARE AWESOME, MIKE!
Sometime this summer, Co$ used the term ANZAC in their flyers. I believe it was an Australian flyer.
Does anyone if they were fined for unauthorized use of the term?
It was mid-September, and the Dept of Veteran Affairs was to launch an investigation. For serious breach one can get up to a year imprisonment or $50K fine.
Give the DVA another month (they are public servants, after all 🙂 ) , I’m sure the CO$ is not off the hook.
I also think that Brian Seymour must have diarised a follow up, too…
Nice letter you wrote in response Mike.
I can just see the letter the church is writing in response.
Death by 1,000 cuts for this suppressive organization. I honestly don’t know what is keeping anyone in this cult other than fear. Pretty much everyone in my life has either A) completely left the Church and disconnected from SCNs, and refuses to talk about it it all B) has left the Church and freely talks to the press about it C) has left the Church, but still puts on a show for their friends & family so they don’t have to disconnect D) has left the Church but stays connected so they can plant seeds of doubt in others and gather info to pass onto the media E) has left the Church but politely fields calls from MAAs and does the good-road-good weather dance F) still goes in to do small services now and then, but really just as a social activity and so as to be harassed too much about it.
I don’t know anyone personally who is still connected to the Church because they actually care about the Church. And I know a lot of “Scientologists”.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot out there that I know of. One of them is my girlfriend who is probably going to dump me because I am no longer doing services. I gather the MAA told her to do so. .
Better to exit stage left than to become married with kids …………….. time to flip open that phone corder and have Scotty beam you up and out of the MAAs reach!
Pete, good grief — what are they doing now, Declaration Lite? You haven’t actually done anything wrong, but you’ve quit coming in for services, so you’re no longer suitable boyfriend material? I guess “Mean Girls” by L Ron Hubbard is in stock at the org bookstore.
and commenting here, Pete2, won’t help either. 🙂
They know who you are. 🙂
Mike, thank you for showing us this. You are a true gentleman and a class act.
Beautiful, Mike! I’m loving this! A gentle little back-handed slap with the glove to His Arrogance, Mr. David Miscavige, via the CLO EUS. I’ll bet someone is stammering on the carpet now. Sorry to have this evil purpose, but the worse it is for the Still Ins, is the more likely they will blow.
Re: I’ll bet someone is stammering on the carpet now.
“I AM of s-s-sound m-m-mind… I AM of s-s-sound m-m-mind.”
http://www.lawrencewrightgoingclear.com/sites/default/files/App11-Jenny%20Linson.pdf
http://www.freedommag.org/sites/default/files/declaration06.pdf
I LOVE it. Right on, Mike!! I would LOVE to see the Co$ notified by attorneys every time they used someone else’s intellectual property!!
As Chris Farley would have said…. “That WAS AWESOME!!!”
Perfection. If they have mailed a similar letter to the CoS, I’d LOVE to read that response. “Your university should be honored to be associated with such illustrious persons as L.R.H. and D.M.”
Yes. And then the CoS will ask them for their crimes and tell them yscohwb.
Mike, I had to laugh at your response only because it is so sane and polite. As I read it, I was superimposing what the church’s response to the U of M request would be. 🙂
Dave,
Please get your gaggle of followers in line.
Bless you Mike for again handling things so well. In addition to directing the IP lawyer in the correct direction, you can guess how many more people are now reading this blog and doing their own research on Miscavige’s empire.
Re: Miscavige’s empire
“Mr. Miscavige has treated me with kindness, compassion and understanding that knows no bounds. I have prepared this as an exercise of my free will, and without any p-p-p-pressure, c-c-c-coercion, or d-d-d-duress.”
http://www.lawrencewrightgoingclear.com/sites/default/files/App11-Jenny%20Linson.pdf
http://www.freedommag.org/sites/default/files/declaration06.pdf
Switch to decaf Jenny.
This is so right on.
You rock, Mike! And you REALLY rock those of you who notified U of M about the trademark infringement.
The church, once again, was guilty of what it preaches against.
Here’s to the continued calling out of the church and the crimes and abuses it commits until there is no more calling out to do.