reputation capital
A recent post reminded me of an orgtheory incident from 2007, I don’t think we ever posted about it.
Fabio used the term “reputation capital” in a post and got this email:
To: Rojas, Fabio Guillermo
From: xxxx (and xxxx’s lawyer cc:d)
Sent: Sun 3/25/2007 12:47 PM
Subject: Reputation Capital(R) – Please ReferenceFabio – trust this note finds you well.
In your blog: http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/quentin-tarantino-economic-sociologist/ you reference reputation capital. Please accept this note as a friendly reminder that Reputation Capital® is a registered trademark of this firm and our suite of professional services. I’d kindly request that you:
A) Reference “® The Nour Group, Inc. 2002-2007″ next to the term,
B) Reference our firm somewhere as a footnote with the above ®, or
C) Remove the term and / or the blog entry all togetherPlease confirm your receipt of this email and thank you in advance,
Signed by
xxxx
So, consider this post a friendly public service announcement. If you use the term “reputation capital” — remember that it has been trademarked (see here, renewed in 2006).
Here’s “reputation capital” and “reputational capital” in google scholar.
Wager: Teppo will get a note from the above mentioned lawyer by 5pm EST on Tuesday.
fabiorojas
January 30, 2011 at 10:42 pm
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January 30, 2011 at 10:46 pm
This reminds me of another academic term that has been trademarked: “Deliberative Polling.” James Fishkin did it. I find that really really weird. You can see it here:
http://cdd.stanford.edu/polls/docs/summary/
Shamus Khan
January 31, 2011 at 12:28 am
I’m sorry, that’s just sad. Really? Wow…
Hillbilly
January 31, 2011 at 2:40 am
Online dictionaries also occassionaly have to remove words – due to lawyers from such companies as the above demanding it.
Anonymous
January 31, 2011 at 4:30 am
I shall be registering the following trademarks:
Vendor state [TM]
Hermit crab organization [TM]
Social Capital Asset Pricing Model (SCAPM) [TM]
Jerry Davis
January 31, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Quick, someone get a trademark for “structural hole” before Ron does.
brayden king
January 31, 2011 at 1:55 pm
here’s a similar case but with a happy ending
http://volokh.com/2011/01/21/company-fires-law-firm-because-of-firms-unfounded-legal-threat-on-companys-behalf/
gabrielrossman
January 31, 2011 at 2:53 pm
I’m trademarking “Jerry Davis”, which I expect will lead to a steady stream of royalties from Michigan.
Kieran
January 31, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I think Ben and Jerry Davis is already trademarked.
Omar
January 31, 2011 at 4:40 pm
My favorite: “Very, Jerry Cherry”
fabiorojas
January 31, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Obviously no action was taken on the part of OrgTheory on the offending blog post. What response did you give to the lawyering?
Jesse
January 31, 2011 at 7:52 pm
I signed a deposition explaining that it was all Fabio’s fault and that he alone was liable for damages.
Omar
January 31, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Omar, quiet! The restraining order!
fabiorojas
January 31, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Vente viagra – la posologie est faible – 100 mg, en partie en raison de sa bonne tolerance, et ce.
Dock
April 21, 2011 at 3:23 pm