Don't mess with Texas

And especially not with their slogan

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"It's such a commonly used phrase that it's rather absurd to think they're going to be able to corral this back in," McLaughlin said.

I don't know how common it was before the anti-litter campaign started. But what do you do when your slogan is too good and everyone wants to use it?

The full article [story.news.yahoo.com]

[sem4u]

Sometimes I feel that people take things a little too far!

[Leosghost]

When I lived in "St.Tropez" the "Mairie" ( city hall for non french folks ) copyrighted the name of the town ..there have been many succesfull prosecutions since that time ( this is going back around 8 yrs or so ..I left last year ) ...
I'm only using the name here to illustrate the point so it ought not to draw the wrath of Mr le Maire..
they basically said that as the name sells then they wanted a peice of the action of all tee shirt sales etc etc ...
I personally know people who have been prosecuted and nearly was myself as I've designed quite a few tee shirts in my time ..Then again France has a legal system which is based on the "code napoleonique" ..which is basically that you must prove your innocence of any given crime ..

[BigDave]

I thought that is was a line for an old western, that the highway department decided to pick up on.

They came up with it in 86, trademarked it in 00 and waited till 04 to start protecting it.

I would not want to bet on them getting to keep the trademark if they try and take it to court. Hell, any native texas district court judge probably has a "Don't Mess with Texas" bumper sticker on his Mercedes.

[vkaryl]

"The state of Texas has a lot of money invested in the slogan, and we definitely want people to know it's a litter prevention message, it's not a macho message," said Doris Howdeshell....

Um. I know a variety of Texans, including my beloved late ex-father in law. They are NOT exclusively male. They ALL consider it to be a "macho message" - and the women, bless their hearts, are just as fervent in its use and defense of same as are the men.

I think Ms. Howdeshell has a problem....

[edit: typos *sigh*]