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 toys r us




From: ch71@merhaba.cc.columbia.edu (Christopher Horymski)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Trademarks 'R' Us
Date: 12 Jan 1994 20:53:05 GMT

A letter to the editor of the New York Observer, January 17, 1994.

BEGIN

To the Editor:

They say that mimicry is the highest form of flattery. However, as legal counsel to an industry which makes a living on the written word, I am sure you can understand our concern regarding the infringement of our intellectual property rights.

It recently came to our attention that in your Dec. 20, 1993, paper, the page 1 cartoon referred to "Guns `R' Us." We have registered the following marks with the Patent and Trademark Office: TOYS "R" US, KIDS "R" US, PORTRAITS "R" US, COMPUTERS "R" US, BOOKS "R" US, etc. We also have several common law marks including GUYS "R" US, GALS "R" US, MOVIES "R" US, etc. As we are sure you can appriciate, we spend millions of dollars every year promoting these marks and our image thereunder as a business for and about children.

Accordingly, we ask that the paper refrain from using our "`R' US" (or ARE US, etc.) in its headlines. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

Michelle A. Schaap
General Attorney, Toys "R" Us
Paramus, NJ

END

Chris "millions for trademarks, but not one cent for Barney returns"


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