Dallas tries to override the First Ammendment

January 31, 2001 12:03 PM

Dallas tries to override the First Ammendment in order to fight a community activism page [javascript navigation... ick] that criticized the city for not enforcing zoning laws, amongst other problems. I personally love the concept of a city considering suing one of its citizens for trademark infringement for using the name of the city itself.
posted by jammer (8 comments total)

I believe that San Francisco owns the copyright on it's name. Rice-a-roni had to get permission from them.
posted by sonofsamiam at 12:53 PM on January 31, 2001

When I was little I remember my parents telling me things like "Aren't you glad we don't live in the communist countries? Those governments arrest you for disagreeing or speaking out against them."

"Wow," I thought. "That's terrible that a government would try to tell people what to think."

It's too bad we do similar things in many respects, only under the guise of weasly tactics, lawyers and legalese.
posted by tomorama at 12:53 PM on January 31, 2001

that website is excellent! did anyone check out the parking plan to fight the st. patrick day party? hilarious and simple!
posted by bliss322 at 1:03 PM on January 31, 2001

What an excellent use of the Web! When I see a site like that, I'm happy to be part of it. That's what the net is all about.
posted by tranquileye at 1:49 PM on January 31, 2001

Sam, nonsense. First of all, TRADEMARK, not copyright. Big difference. Second, San Francisco is not a company selling foodstuffs, therefore it cannot contest a trademark in the food industry. The Rice-a-Roni mark is "The San Francisco Treat", not "San Francisco". There are tons of registrations for things named San Francisco in whole or part, most having nothing to do with the city (like a ceiling fan made in Florida).
posted by dhartung at 3:55 PM on January 31, 2001

I guess we do need sarcasm tags after all.

Dallas is a registered trademark of Texas, Inc., a subsidiary of The United States of America Corp. All rights reserved.
posted by hijinx at 5:32 PM on January 31, 2001

Rereading it in context, I guess you're right. That mistake just always gets my hackles up.
posted by dhartung at 6:52 PM on January 31, 2001

Living here, this is really a sad situation. It's a nice residential area with a strip of bars and clubs running right through the middle with no parking. But, the best part of the site: Flash animation of people relieving themselves to "Who Let the Dogs Out." Priceless.

posted by iscavenger at 10:33 PM on January 31, 2001