Whoa there now Fella! US Mint™ Trademark Infringment?

19Lyds · May 17, 2010 5:38AM

The latest online Coin World has a cover article on a Cease and Desist letter written by the US Mint™ to Chatanooga Coin Co. claiming that US Mint™, United States Mint™ and America the Beautiful Quarters™ are trade marks of the US Mint™.

Will set a big precedent for eBay sellers that freely use those terms without making note that they are trademarks of the mint?

Granted, Chatanooga Coins was selling coin rolls of Arkansas Hot Springs korters ( I can say that can't I? ) stamped with U.S. MINT CEREMONY ROLL / APR 20th HOT SPRINGS, AR, which is a bit misleading but to roll out the trade mark guns is some pretty serious stuff!

I guess since the add was a full page add it attracted a bunch of attention.

tahoe98 · May 17, 2010 7:06AM

...i think the mint should be directing all that effort into quality control.

ProofCents · May 17, 2010 7:21AM

I just saw an infomercial last night about the "Dansworth Mint" which was bordering on misleading

RWB · May 17, 2010 7:28AM

The Mint and Treasury have to deal with complaints from people who have been duped by false and misleading ads. That takes a lot of time to do. It is more cost effective to get voluntary compliance early, and save all the later effort.

In this instance it appears the company will change its advertising, for which they should be commended.

Now, about those “Ballistic Rolls” in gold paper boxes….

19Lyds · May 18, 2010 1:33AM

<< <i>The Mint and Treasury have to deal with complaints from people who have been duped by false and misleading ads. That takes a lot of time to do. It is more cost effective to get voluntary compliance early, and save all the later effort.

In this instance it appears the company will change its advertising, for which they should be commended.

Now, about those “Ballistic Rolls” in gold paper boxes…. >>

True but referring to "America the Beautiful Quarters™" as a trademark?

As for the ad in question, I definitely didn't get the impression that this fellow was offering US Mint approved products but then aren't all US produced coins "US Mint products"?

Whatever, it just seems a little silly to try and protect stupid from himself since 99 times out of 100, he'll figure out some way around it.

ambro51 · May 18, 2010 2:29AM

My favorite ad on Tee Vee is the one for the fantastic US mint gold coins, only $128 or so each and they show these massive stacks of gold coins. MAN they look impresive. Even more impressive is how someone managed to stack all those teeeeny 1/10 oz.gold coins like that!

sinin1 · May 18, 2010 2:35AM

I think the mint should work on fulfillment

I got a letter yesterday asking me to do a 30 minute online survey on customer satisfaction

I can't decide if I want to bother

19Lyds · May 31, 2010 2:05AM

According to the latest online Coin World, NGC is dropping "America the Beautiful" from its slabs to avoid any run-ins with the US Mint over trademark infringement.

I wonder if the copyright owners of the song "America the Beautiful" will be sending the US Mint a cease and desist letter?

RWB · May 31, 2010 4:18AM

Collectors gripe about novices being ripped off by crooks imitating real US Mint products, then complain when the Mint tries to do something about the problem. The phrase is a trademark in relation to the National Parks quarter program - not other things also.

19Lyds · May 31, 2010 4:41AM

<< <i>Collectors gripe about novices being ripped off by crooks imitating real US Mint products, then complain when the Mint tries to do something about the problem. The phrase is a trademark in relation to the National Parks quarter program - not other things also. >>

Gimme a Coke™.

291fifth · May 31, 2010 4:46AM

Why not just call them National Parks Quarters?

droopyd · May 31, 2010 4:54AM

<< <i>Why not just call them National Parks Quarters? >>

Because that's not what the advertising and marketing consultants (who were paid tens of thousands of dollars) came up with.

19Lyds · May 31, 2010 5:29AM

I fully expect that this program will turn away as many collectors as the State Quarters attracted as the US Mint™ is getting dangerously close to saturating the coin market with products much in the same way that the USPS did.

The only thing this stuff will do is line the pockets of the flippers who may now end up with the question of whether or not to use the term "America the Beautiful™" in their auctions/listing. Except for High Grade Business Strikes, few of these will ever retain their initial offering prices.

Is it even legal to use US Mint and United States Mint any more without the ™ since both are Federally Registered Trademarks?

Will it be possible to even resell US Mint™ products without their specific permissions? After all, you wouldn't want folks to think you were acting on behalf of the US Mint™.

At what point does silly get really silly since it is impossible to protect stupid from him/herself.

ricko · May 31, 2010 6:02AM

The Mint is protecting it's property. It is silly to continuously critique and second guess such things. It is a legal area and being handled properly. It is of no concern to anyone except the Mint and the violator. Go collect some coins. Cheers, RickO

19Lyds · May 31, 2010 6:02AM

Here's another question.

Will PCGS now have to discontinue the Presidential Dollar Signature Set since true US Mint Signature Set coins have not been produced since 2008?

I mean, you wouldn't want folks to think that these were still a "Limited Edition" product since any ole proof presidential dollar will work now that the Signature Series is officially dead.

Swampboy · May 31, 2010 6:38AM

<< <i>I think the mint should work on fulfillment

I got a letter yesterday asking me to do a 30 minute online survey on customer satisfaction

I can't decide if I want to bother >>

Please do.
We need your opinion to counter the little old man (lady) in Sioux City who wants a Jayhawk quarter.

Cameonut · May 31, 2010 10:29AM

I don't think the mint has much to stand on with respect to infringement.

America the Beautiful should be in the public domain thus the mint cannot trademark it.

They should stick to doing what they know how to do (presumably it is minting coins).

Whoa there now Fella! US Mint™ Trademark Infringment?

Comments

Leave a Comment