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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2013/jan/02/keep-calm-and-carry-on-trademark-books-poster-copyright
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| Keep Calm and Carry On trademark battle enters new year | Keep Calm and Carry On trademark battle enters new year |
| (8 days later) | |
| Barter Books in Alnwick railway station is a beloved institution in the north of England, with an extraordinary extra claim to fame. | Barter Books in Alnwick railway station is a beloved institution in the north of England, with an extraordinary extra claim to fame. |
| Its owners Stuart and Mary Manley began events which have led to a tide of variants on the slogan 'Keep Calm and Carry On' prepared in 1939 by the wartime Government in case of German invasion but never used. | Its owners Stuart and Mary Manley began events which have led to a tide of variants on the slogan 'Keep Calm and Carry On' prepared in 1939 by the wartime Government in case of German invasion but never used. |
| The saga started in 2001 when the Manleys found one of the posters, which had survived Government recall and destruction, in a box of books bought at an auction for their vast emporium. More than 100,000 copies have since been sold by the shop, along with mouse mats, postcards, T-shirts and much else. | The saga started in 2001 when the Manleys found one of the posters, which had survived Government recall and destruction, in a box of books bought at an auction for their vast emporium. More than 100,000 copies have since been sold by the shop, along with mouse mats, postcards, T-shirts and much else. |
| Famously, the ingenuity of the English language and our fondness for puns has since been shown at its finest by slogans on everything everywhere including a provocative position at the top of women's stockings. Others include Keep Korma and Curry On for cooks, Calm you shall keep and Carry on you must, for Star Wars enthusiasts and Sod Off and get Lost for the fed up. | Famously, the ingenuity of the English language and our fondness for puns has since been shown at its finest by slogans on everything everywhere including a provocative position at the top of women's stockings. Others include Keep Korma and Curry On for cooks, Calm you shall keep and Carry on you must, for Star Wars enthusiasts and Sod Off and get Lost for the fed up. |
| The last might reasonably include the Manleys who, respecting the original Government origins of the slogan, never trademarked their business, unlike a rival entrepreneur who failed in a UK claim but in April registered a European Union trademark for his range of Keep Calmery. Those very expensive things, lawyers are now involved in an attempt by the bookshop and others to have this quashed and kept available to all. The Keep Calm Campaign website in support of an e-petition is gathering signatures. | The last might reasonably include the Manleys who, respecting the original Government origins of the slogan, never trademarked their business, unlike a rival entrepreneur who failed in a UK claim but in April registered a European Union trademark for his range of Keep Calmery. Those very expensive things, lawyers are now involved in an attempt by the bookshop and others to have this quashed and kept available to all. The Keep Calm Campaign website in support of an e-petition is gathering signatures. |
| The issue may be simply resolved in the end, with evidence that former TV producer Mark Coop got his original copy from Barter Books and appears to have no evidence of original discovery; but the Keep Calm Campaign says that he has United States and Canadian applications pending and the potential may be growing for restrictive action. The slogan was originally Crown copyright but is now in the public domain because more than 50 years have elapsed since an unknown civil servant thought it up. Wouldn't it be great if they or a relative came forward? | The issue may be simply resolved in the end, with evidence that former TV producer Mark Coop got his original copy from Barter Books and appears to have no evidence of original discovery; but the Keep Calm Campaign says that he has United States and Canadian applications pending and the potential may be growing for restrictive action. The slogan was originally Crown copyright but is now in the public domain because more than 50 years have elapsed since an unknown civil servant thought it up. Wouldn't it be great if they or a relative came forward? |
| Its two predecessors 'Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will Bring us Victory' and 'Freedom in Peril' were plastered across the UK. But 'Keep Calm and Carry On' was stuck on only a few office walls and all but a handful of copies – most in the National Archive and the Imperial War Museum – escaped pulping. | Its two predecessors 'Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will Bring us Victory' and 'Freedom in Peril' were plastered across the UK. But 'Keep Calm and Carry On' was stuck on only a few office walls and all but a handful of copies – most in the National Archive and the Imperial War Museum – escaped pulping. |
| Stuart Manley has been advised that action in Europe could take half a year and Coop's defence had only arrived at Alnwick last month. He tells the Newcastle Journal: | Stuart Manley has been advised that action in Europe could take half a year and Coop's defence had only arrived at Alnwick last month. He tells the Newcastle Journal: |
| It is so long and complicated that it must have cost him a fortune. The gist of it appears to be that it does not matter who found the poster first, he is the first one who trademarked it. | It is so long and complicated that it must have cost him a fortune. The gist of it appears to be that it does not matter who found the poster first, he is the first one who trademarked it. |
| If you applied this to everything, origination would not matter at all would it? | If you applied this to everything, origination would not matter at all would it? |
| Coop counters: | Coop counters: |
| Barter Books didn't see the opportunity that I saw, and I think they were rather naive in failing to register the domain name or trademark the slogan. All I am trying to do is protect my business and my livelihood and prevent other people jumping on the back of what I'm doing. | Barter Books didn't see the opportunity that I saw, and I think they were rather naive in failing to register the domain name or trademark the slogan. All I am trying to do is protect my business and my livelihood and prevent other people jumping on the back of what I'm doing. |
This video from Barter Books tells more of the background to the story. The Keep Calm Campaign meanwhile urges: | This video from Barter Books tells more of the background to the story. The Keep Calm Campaign meanwhile urges: |
| We are calling on the nation's 'war-time spirit.' We must return 'Keep Calm And Carry On' to the people of Britain, and to keep it that way..... we must 'Keep calm and fight on!' | We are calling on the nation's 'war-time spirit.' We must return 'Keep Calm And Carry On' to the people of Britain, and to keep it that way..... we must 'Keep calm and fight on!' |
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