# Trademarking Pi. What's worse, granting the trademark or that this asshat thinks he can own it? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 3, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915 "2014-06-03T12:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/1 "2014-06-03T12:50:11Z")
[Here’s the story](http://www.wired.com/2014/05/pi-takedown/) from WIRED. And [here is a slightly different version](http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/06/artist-trademarks-pi-symbol-enrages-the-web.html) 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](http://www.scribd.com/doc/227367808/Zazzle-Pi-Trademark-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](http://www.trademarks411.com/marks/85481027-i-lt-3). Fucking parasite. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/2 "2014-06-03T13:00:19Z")
I call dibs on Avogadro’s number! Yesssss. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/3 "2014-06-03T13:27:12Z")
I’m taking _e_. The letter **and** the constant. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/4 "2014-06-03T13:28:31Z")
Is ‘M’ taken yet? Or ‘W’? I could sue the snot out of Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/5 "2014-06-03T13:33:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Yesssss. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/6 "2014-06-03T13:55:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/7 "2014-06-03T13:59:08Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > 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. Oh yeah? I’m trademarking the wheel. What goes around, comes around. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/8 "2014-06-03T14:01:15Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > 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. Wait, that would have something to do with mathematics, wouldn’t it? Or, as we shall be calling it henceforth and forevermore, **BrainGluttix™.** ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/9 "2014-06-03T14:17:20Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > 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)? An idiot. Zazzle has been using Pi since at least 2008, one year longer than Ingrisano’s claimed first use. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/10 "2014-06-03T14:21:19Z")
VOWELS!!! Vowels are mine. You may license them for personal, noncommercial use at a very…well, fairly…reasonable rate. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/11 "2014-06-03T14:22:31Z")
Two years. Oh, and I’m trademarking the practice of trademarking. Also the word. So you all owe me everything. ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/12 "2014-06-03T14:51:59Z")
I’m trademarking “being an asshole on the internet.” I’m gonna be rich! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/13 "2014-06-03T14:53:52Z")
> [@Calatin](#): > > I’m trademarking “being an asshole on the internet.” > > I’m gonna be rich! You stole my original research ! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/14 "2014-06-03T14:58:04Z")
Must resist pointing out the difference between Trademarks and Patents. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/15 "2014-06-03T15:03:55Z")
What the fuck are they smoking at the patent office? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/16 "2014-06-03T15:06:41Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Must resist pointing out the difference between Trademarks and Patents. Stop using those words, I have a Service Mark on both. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/17 "2014-06-03T15:14:29Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > What the fuck are they smoking at the patent office? We won’t know till the patent expires.☹ ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/18 "2014-06-03T15:41:20Z")
I call dibs on “Hitler” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/19 "2014-06-03T15:44:53Z")
Dibs on “S”. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915/20 "2014-06-03T15:54:07Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trademarking-pi-whats-worse-granting-the-trademark-or-that-this-asshat-thinks-he-can-own-it/689915.md?page=2)