RNC threatens Roy Barnes over use of elephant logo, and the letters ‘G,’ ‘O,’ and ‘P’
The Republican National Committee has threatened to take Democratic nominee Roy Barnes to court over the use of its elephant logo on his “Republicans for Roy” web site, as well as the letters G-O-P.
Who knew GOP was a registered trademark? Sounds like the legalese you hear before baseball games: “No accounts” of the game allowed without permission. Which, if strictly enforced, would really hamper water-cooler talk.
Read the Sept. 30 letter here. In part:
Mr. Barnes clearly lacks a belief in private property rights, as his unauthorized use of the RNC’s intellectual property demonstrates. The Barnes campaign’s use of the RNC’s Official Elephant Logo and “GOP” trademark thus appear to be clearly designed to mislead the public into thinking that Mr. Barnes is someone he is not and that he has the support of the Republican Party, which he assuredly does not have…
The RNC hereby demands that the Roy Barnes campaign immediately cease and desist from utilizing “GOP” and the Official Elephant Logo or we will be forced to pursue the matter in a court of law….
The letter is signed John R. Phillippe Jr., chief counsel for the RNC.
But no doubt the RNC will need local counsel as well. We have in mind a certain Marietta law firm with a GOP-documented reputation for suing the heck out of rich businesses — and winning.
Update at 3:15 p.m.: Both sides are looking to stoke this issue. Said Rachel Bauer Taylor, spokeswoman for the RNC:
“Roy Barnes is no Republican. In fact, he’s running as a Democrat against the bona fide Republican, Nathan Deal. During his former reign as a liberal Governor of Georgia, he left Georgia with a $640 Million shortfall at the time he was fired and also the largest overall job loss in the state for that period since the Bureau of Labor and Statistics first started tracking back in 1939. Roy Barnes was wrong for Georgia back then and he’s certainly wrong for Georgia now – no matter how hard he tries to cloak himself in our logo.”
And the retort from Emil Runge of the Barnes campaign:
“Congressman Deal asked his Washington friends to protect him after he saw how many Republicans were flocking to Roy Barnes. Georgia’s Republicans know that unlike Congressman Deal – who voted for the largest tax increase in state history – Roy is the true fiscal conservative in the race for governor.”
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217 comments Add your comment
BRW
September 30th, 2010
9:54 pm
Never read either one but they must have some really witty writers over there
Regardless of what you say, Barnes has never been as fiscally irresponsible, personally, with the public money as Deal has been with his own money (which will become your money once he files, and he will have to file).
Face it, Roy lost because “Sonny Lied” about the stupid flag issue.
Deal’s Running Scared « The Perimeter Progressive
September 30th, 2010
10:01 pm
[...] second event was covered in this AJC post. To sum up the post, the GOP is threatening to sue Barnes for using their elephant logo and the [...]
Bobby Anthony
September 30th, 2010
10:08 pm
Roy lost because teachers voted against him. I voted for Sonny and I voted for Deal on the first day of early voting.
BRW
September 30th, 2010
10:11 pm
Oh-for-two on using your noodle. Good for you.
td
September 30th, 2010
10:19 pm
BRW, Then go back and look at my post about what Barnes has promised the teachers for their forgiveness and the shape our budget is in. How is he going to pay for it? I personally can not afford another tax increase, so therefore, I will vote for Deal and a straight Republican ticket. Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
PP
September 30th, 2010
10:31 pm
http://perimeterprogressive.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/deals-running-scared/
Between going after the Republicans for Roy and going after the Libertarians who are lampooning Deal, I think it’s safe to say the Deal camp is running scared. Wonder why…
pn
September 30th, 2010
11:18 pm
Deal & Cagle. More of the same. Georgia will continue it’s slide into banana republic status, where insiders get rich and the rest of us get fleeced.
I wish the AJC would take a good look at Carol Porter. From all appearances she is a forthright, honest and refreshing new face in GA politics.
I am not a staffer. Just a voter who is tired of the good old boys lining their pockets at our expense, while the state crumbles around them. A voter who is desperately hoping for someone with basic integrity and walking around sense.
Billy in Savannah
October 1st, 2010
5:41 am
I have noticed many of the bloggers with obvious GOP tendencies do not use facts in their arguments. They just name call. Georgians, please study the FACTS and do not pay attention to such stupidity. I think the choice will be clear. Vote Barnes for GA!
BRW
October 1st, 2010
6:43 am
“I personally can not afford another tax increase, so therefore, I will vote for Deal and a straight Republican ticket. Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.”
If he wins, come back here and tell me what you think about GOB Nathan once he raises those taxes you can’t afford. If you think his promises are any better than his budgeting prowess, keep on voting straight R. Your about to find out what Deal thinks about YOUR money. He’s had a lot of practice throwing his away.
Georgia Girl
October 1st, 2010
9:15 am
Am I the only one sick and tired of hearing about the flag issue from 10 years ago? It is time for Georgia to move forward.
Last Man Standing
October 1st, 2010
10:19 am
Georgia Girl:
No, we need to talk about the flag issue a little more. The flag, while central to the issue, isn;t the focus. The focus of this issue is of promises made and promises broken by the same man who would be governor again. I learned early in life that liars rarely (if ever) become non-liars. This negs the question, “If he lied about the vote on the flag, what else has he lied to us about and what other lies will he tell in the future.” It goes to the very heart of Barnes’ credability.
Cut me once, shame on you.
Cut me twice, shame on me.
Last Man Standing
October 1st, 2010
10:21 am
Can’t spell this morning! “negs” should read “begs”
Georgia Girl
October 1st, 2010
11:33 am
Are you saying you voted for Perdue to run the state for the last 8 years. If you are a citizen of Georgia, how has that worked for your family? I do not remember Barnes coming out and saying that he would let people vote on the confederate flag. I am just tired of our great state being on the bottom of the list all the time… And this should go without saying, but I don’t want someone that can’t manage their own money in charge of the state budget and how that money is spent. Would you want them managing your back accounts?
Georgia Girl
October 1st, 2010
11:34 am
should be bank account…
Terry M, Agne
October 3rd, 2010
3:49 pm
I say sue him . He’s a lawyer . He’s sued alot of people before and now he’s done something wrong , for the purpose of benefiting himself,and for personal gain . He’s has tried to sue us the citizens of Georgia . He’s not above the law . Or does the law not apply to the great king . Oh ya he’s not King anymore.
Voice of Reason
October 6th, 2010
8:12 pm
No way any real conservative would vote for the union backed RoyBama under ANY circumstances.
New logo for Democratic National Committee looks identical to two other businessesâ but legal challenges unlikely (Daily Caller) _ 56Life
October 7th, 2010
8:49 am
[...] made headlines when its registered logo – a star-spangled elephant – was appropriated by former Georgia Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, who is making another run for his old office, in a “Republicans for Roy” promotion. The RNC [...]