# Are the category headings copyrighted?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [April 28, 2001, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663 "2001-04-28T18:57:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663/1 "2001-04-28T18:57:54Z")

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I might become the editor for a social clubs newsletter, and it would be perfect to use the IMHO, BBQ pit, etc. headings for pages. Are these copyrighted features of the site?

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**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663/2 "2001-04-28T20:13:31Z")

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Jesus, I hope not. I named my cat Mipp Sims. And I call my barbecue pit the BBQ Pit.

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**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663/3 "2001-04-28T20:46:17Z")

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My mother calls me I! M\*HO! Could she get sued for that?

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**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663/4 "2001-04-28T20:47:21Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by sethdallob \*  
> \*\*I might become the editor for a social clubs newsletter, and it would be perfect to use the IMHO, BBQ pit, etc. headings for pages. Are these copyrighted features of the site? \*\*

Those names are too short to be copyrightable.

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**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663/5 "2001-04-28T21:52:17Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by KellyM \*  
> \*\*Those names are too short to be copyrightable. \*\*

But they’re just the right size to be trademarked. I checked out the site of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office-The Chicago Reader does not hold a trademark on any of the forum names, so I guess you can take them.

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**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-category-headings-copyrighted/63663/6 "2001-04-28T22:39:24Z")

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While the above posts are appreciated, I’d like to hear it from a mod/admin for the flavor of authenticity (I like their smoky flavor). 🙂