SPJ trademarks 'fake news' and sends Trump a cease and desist letter

[babylonsister]

SPJ trademarks ‘fake news’ and sends Trump a cease and desist letter
Creative Works
By Kyle O'Brien-22 October 2019 20:37pm



President Trump uses the term ‘fake news’ whenever he doesn’t like something the press says about him in order to discredit the stories, and the Florida Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has had enough.

The SPJ, the US’s oldest and largest journalism advocacy organization, decided to trademark the term ‘fake news’ in hopes of stopping the president from using the term haphazardly. Every time he uses it incorrectly, the organization will send him a cease and desist letter.

A launch video features a journalist explaining why the term was trademarked – fake news is not actually news at all, so when the president uses the term to discredit real news, he is now in violation of the trademark – and how the group will enforce it.

“Trump has popularized the idea that all mainstream media is lying and corrupt. Labeling stories that are critical of him as ‘fake news’ is an effective weapon,” said Emily Bloch, president, SPJ Florida Pro Chapter. “We’re now seeing people using the term to dismiss truthful stories that don’t align with their politics or views. And that’s a major problem for healthy discourse in a democracy.”

more...

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/10/22/spj-trademarks-fake-news-and-sends-trump-cease-and-desist-letter?fbclid=IwAR0LStJCxPF06Vw3xjNZgzb8Bxm1y8mSn-kyww1SkR4sZHwsbI1HxsiMuhU

[onenote]

1. funny stunt, but according to a trademark lawyer I know, it won't be enforceable

[jberryhill]

2. Make that two trademark lawyers you know

[onenote]

4. Yep. Even the SPJ has described the move as a "joke".

But I suspect some here will take it seriously.

[mercuryblues]

3. That is funny

trolling trump is one thing that gets under his skin. With Rudy as your lawyer, it just might be enforced.

.