Thank You, I'm Suing
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 4:58 pm
I usually don't post about lawsuits, but this one is bizarre. Apparently CitiGroup was granted a trademark on the phrase "THANKYOU" by itself and in connection with various other words and phrases like "CITI THANKYOU" in connection with its customer loyalty programs. AT&T has launched its own loyalty program and has trademarked the phrases "thanks" and "AT&T thanks" and Citi is trying to enjoin them to stop them from using the word "thanks."
I'm not sure how anyone can trademark the word "thanks" or "THANKYOU" by itself (I can see combining it with Citi or AT&T in a phrase to get something that can be trademarked), and certainly, as the article points out, you don't automatically associate the word "thanks" with any business.
At least now you know how Bob ## can afford to go to all those bridge tournaments.
abovethelaw.com/2016/06/citigroup-sues-att-for-saying-thanks-to-customers/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=30728175&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_QG-UgeQk2QukYgAxnr-cSNbdL68t0kW5KtGQ21EJmiyJn1GGFTNW-_zHbqNK7jKyhOaX0Oxhpt4hCZwdjvDDN8KFwwg&_hsmi=30728175
I'm not sure how anyone can trademark the word "thanks" or "THANKYOU" by itself (I can see combining it with Citi or AT&T in a phrase to get something that can be trademarked), and certainly, as the article points out, you don't automatically associate the word "thanks" with any business.
At least now you know how Bob ## can afford to go to all those bridge tournaments.
abovethelaw.com/2016/06/citigroup-sues-att-for-saying-thanks-to-customers/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=30728175&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_QG-UgeQk2QukYgAxnr-cSNbdL68t0kW5KtGQ21EJmiyJn1GGFTNW-_zHbqNK7jKyhOaX0Oxhpt4hCZwdjvDDN8KFwwg&_hsmi=30728175