Via Wired News, actor Damon Wayns has been fighting with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s for 14-months in attempts to trademark the word “Nigga” for a clothing company.
Wayans wants to dress customers in 14 kinds of attire from tops to bottoms, and use the controversial mark on “clothing, books, music and general merchandise,” as well as movies, TV and the internet, according to his applications.
But, so far, his applications have been unsuccessful. Trademark examiner Kelly Boulton rejected the registration dated Dec. 22, citing a law that prohibits marks that are “immoral or scandalous.” A previous attempt by Wayans was turned down on identical grounds six months earlier.
Though a very controversial term, Wayans’s trademark attorney is using past cases to support the request. Reference to the Washington “Redskins” and a California company titled “Dykes on Bikes” -which is owned by two lesbian entrepreneurs- are noted in the article.
What are your thoughts? Do you think that efforts to commercialize the term are a good idea or bad. If Wayans sells t-shirts would I be able to wear one and not get stomped? Keon Rhodan who has been selling clothing items with the logo “nigga” for years says no way.
Though attempts to commercialize “Nigga” coincide with a generational shift in how the word is perceived, the clothing is still likely to test some boundaries, as Rhodan demonstrated in a phone interview … “You couldn’t wear it,” he said.
I’m all for actors perusing other ventures, but this one may be a stretch. On the other hand, you can’t beat good old fasion controversial brouhaha.
