# Trademark (?) question - Tshirt 'slogan'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademark-question-tshirt-slogan/682831>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 4, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademark-question-tshirt-slogan/682831 "2014-03-04T16:48:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademark-question-tshirt-slogan/682831/21 "2014-03-05T15:13:18Z")

</div>

> [@md2000](#):
>
> I have trouble understanding how they can claim trademark on a relatively common phrase, except in a very narrow commercial application (i.e. sports quipment, or clothing) - especially if th phrase has been in common use.

As I understand it, the people in this instance started making copies of the poster they bought, and are trying to claim trademark to the style and layout of the message specifically because of a ton of copycat “Keep Calm and (blank)” merchandise, all laid out exactly like the poster (little crown at the top, one word on each line, “and” smaller than the other words, etc.

My favorite is one I saw James May wearing: Get Excited and Make Stuff. 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademark-question-tshirt-slogan/682831/22 "2014-03-06T14:16:18Z")

</div>

I guess it’s time for a shirt that says:

\\////  
**Canada  
says  
Don’t  
Keep  
Calm**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademark-question-tshirt-slogan/682831/23 "2014-03-06T14:55:53Z")

</div>

> [@DrCube](#):
>
> Okay, but US government produced literature and propaganda is not copyrighted, so my question was whether the same applies/applied to the UK. I know no one has to “register” copyrights anymore, but that doesn’t mean some works aren’t public domain.

No, the UK government’s position differs quite substantially of the US government’s. In the UK, public works are (generally) subject to [crown copyright](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/crown-copyright.htm), which must be specifically waived by the holder.

I am not an expert in the field and I have no idea if the scope of UK trademark law differs.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademark-question-tshirt-slogan/682831.md?page=1)