Trademarking Pi. What's worse, granting the trademark or that this asshat thinks he can own it?

The BBQ Pit
1

Here’s the story from WIRED. And here is a slightly different version from the CBC.

Bottom line is a gentleman from Brooklyn, Paul Ingrisano, an artist no less, applied for and received ‘ownership’ of the trademark “π.” (the pi symbol followed by a period).

Trademark papers in hand, he instructed his lawyers to issue a cease and desist letter against Zazzle, an online retailer which, among many other products, sells various goods decorated with the pi symbol. (Take a peek at the letter - jeez, they don’t fool around, do they?). Much work and inconvenience ensued for Zazzle (and, presumably, at least some of its customers).

Maybe, I suppose, possibly, it’s legit to issue a trademark for pi followed by a period. Possibly. But, even if so, who the hell would think that gives you license to go after anyone using depictions of the pi symbol for their own purposes (commercial or otherwise)?

Asshats - Ingrisano leading the pack, but also the Patent Office for granting the application, and Ingrisano’s lawyer for going along with the idea to harass Zazzle.

Oh. Guess what. Ingrisano has a trademark application pending on “I<3”. I kid you not. Fucking parasite.

2

I call dibs on Avogadro’s number!

Yesssss.

3

I’m taking e. The letter and the constant.

4

Is ‘M’ taken yet? Or ‘W’? I could sue the snot out of Microsoft.

5

You are hereby directed to cease and desist all usage of “Yesssss” (referred to as Y e quintuple s) in accordance with the trademark application that I’m definitely going to file with the government this afternoon.

6

I’ll have the Golden Ratio.

Wait, belay that, let’s be greedy : I hereby trademark ratios, period. And the / sign, just to be thorough.

7

Oh yeah? I’m trademarking the wheel.
What goes around, comes around.

8

Wait, that would have something to do with mathematics, wouldn’t it? Or, as we shall be calling it henceforth and forevermore, BrainGluttix™.

9

An idiot. Zazzle has been using Pi since at least 2008, one year longer than Ingrisano’s claimed first use.

10

VOWELS!!! Vowels are mine. You may license them for personal, noncommercial use at a very…well, fairly…reasonable rate.

11

Two years.

Oh, and I’m trademarking the practice of trademarking. Also the word. So you all owe me everything.

12

I’m trademarking “being an asshole on the internet.”

I’m gonna be rich!

13

You stole my original research !

14

Must resist pointing out the difference between Trademarks and Patents.

15

What the fuck are they smoking at the patent office?

16

Stop using those words, I have a Service Mark on both.

17

We won’t know till the patent expires.:frowning:

18

I call dibs on “Hitler”

19

Dibs on “S”.

20

This isn’t the first time the Greek letter has been registered. A pizzeria has been using it since '86 and has been registered (#4262848) for 18 months.

I wonder if that pizzeria sells any apparel emblazoned with Pi.