1. Michael Hernandez de Luna
"Prozac," "Viagra"
Computer Laser Print/U.S. Postage Cancellation, 1996-9
The artist's pieces violate a number of laws. In addition to reproducing trademarked designs for Viagra and Prozac, de Luna has sent his artist stamps through the mail as postage. The cancelled letters are a testament to his skill in fooling postal workers. Many other works are featured in The Stamp Art and Postal History of Michael Thompson and Michael Hernandez de Luna.
2. Kembrew McLeod
Conceptual, 1998
In 1998, Kembrew McLeod trademarked the phrase "Freedom of Expression" and created a zine with that title. He enlisted a friend, Brendan Love, to pose as the publisher of an imaginary punk rock magazine also called Freedom of Expression, whom he then pretended to sue. McLeod hired a lawyer and didn't let her in on the hoax. The lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to Love:
We represent Kembrew McLeod of Sunderland, Massachusetts,
the owner of the federally registered trademark, FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION ... Your company has been using the mark Freedom
of Expression ... Such use creates a likelihood of confusion in the
market and also creates a substantial risk of harm to the
reputation and goodwill of our client. This letter, therefore,
constitutes formal notice of your infringement of our client's
trademark rights and a demand that you refrain from all further
use of Freedom of Expression.
Shortly thereafter, the Daily Hampshire Gazette ran an interview with McLeod. He played it straight, telling the paper, "I didn't go to the trouble, the expense and the time of trademarking Freedom of Expression just to have someone else come along and think they can use it whenever they want." Two years later, when McLeod asked to reprint the Gazette article in his book Owning Culture, the paper denied him permission.
3.
Really outstanding. Mr. McLeod, in particular, deserves wider notice (click it: he's suing AT&T for the same damn thing!).
posted by Brad Larcen 6/07/2003[edit]
