February 24, 2006

Damon Wayans Trying to Trademark "Nigga"

I assume Paul Mooney sewed up the the "-er" spelling ages ago:

Damon Wayans Tries to Trademark 'N' Word

The actor Damon Wayans has been engaged in a 14-month fight to trademark the term "Nigga" for a clothing line and retail store, a search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's online database reveals.

Wayans wants to dress customers in 14 kinds of attire from tops to bottoms, and use the controversial mark on "clothing, books, music and general merchandise," as well as movies, TV and the internet, according to his applications.

But, so far, his applications have been unsuccessful. Trademark examiner Kelly Boulton rejected the registration dated Dec. 22, citing a law that prohibits marks that are "immoral or scandalous." A previous attempt by Wayans was turned down on identical grounds six months earlier.

"While debate exists about in-group uses of the term, 'nigga' is almost universally understood to be derogatory," Boulton wrote to Wayans' attorney, William H. Cox, according to the application...

Posted by jsmooth995 at February 24, 2006 04:29 PM
Comments

that's straight fuckery

I guess I should call shot gun on the word "fuckery"...

Posted by: so nice at February 24, 2006 09:30 PM

that's straight fuckery

I guess I should call shot gun on the word "fuckery"...

Posted by: so nice at February 24, 2006 09:30 PM

"'nigga' is almost universally understood to be derogatory..."

No shit. I wonder what the logo will look like!

Posted by: Jess at February 24, 2006 09:55 PM

HAHAHAHA... k mental visualization of the logo here.....

Posted by: Kevin Johnston at February 25, 2006 01:06 AM

Something similar to the old KMD album cover maybe?

Posted by: julien at February 25, 2006 01:47 AM

Surprise surprise, Stanley Crouch is pissed:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/395181p-334913c.html

Posted by: eskay at February 27, 2006 11:41 AM

Wow, I'm actually finding myself kind of agreeing with Stanley Crouch. In a perfect world, though, Damon Wayans would spend millions of dollars in legal fees alone to secure the copyright, and millions more developing the clothing line.

And then he'd go broke 'cause no one would buy that sh!t.

Posted by: kami at February 27, 2006 01:00 PM

I don't believe that he actually intends to put out a clothing line with that name. I'm thinking they just put that on the application for whatever reason. He can't possibly think that's a good idea, and this is coming from someone who uses the word pretty liberally.

Posted by: eskay at February 27, 2006 03:27 PM

Damn!!! How far we've fallen as a Race. To actually sit down and start the ball rolling on an idea as silly as this is unbelieveable and unthinkable. However, what could one expect from an overpaid and not so talented comedian. Break a Leg, NO, I mean literally break a leg.

Posted by: Leonard Parker at February 28, 2006 02:56 PM

Two steps forward, five steps backwards!

Posted by: Tazz at March 1, 2006 12:48 AM

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard and a great reason why our people will remain in slavery.

I said it.

Posted by: 2006 Morehouse Man at March 4, 2006 10:41 PM

Ok when I first about Damon planning to make the "n" word a trademark I was like yeah it could be a good thing becuase then he would own rights to it and it will be a good way to stop the word from being used so freely.
I thought that before reading the raw deal of his intentions and he is one big time sell out to his own kind!
But do you know the SADDEST thing is that if he did get the permission its the fact the youth will be wearing it, afterall we are very good at taking the mick out of ourselves! And whats to say that we won't find a European wearing it? Where do we draw the line! I mean when did we fall so far from grace?

Posted by: Queen Edevine at March 9, 2006 02:43 PM

I think that it is an insult to our African-American ancestors who went thru pure hell to bring freedom for our race. We should thank God for making it his plan to help us learn how we can cope and survive in this crazy world. Why would u want to make money making a fool out of yourself when u can make money doing something more beneficial. That is the reason why God gives each and every one a mind to think. To think before we act, and to pick up the strength for all of us to come together as one. We are given a chance to make a choice and to serve our purpose. my main opinion is making a clothes line with that word will only mean "war".

Posted by: Tiffany at March 14, 2006 11:10 PM

This is ridiculous! Have anyone ever thought that we are still considered to be called a slave?" We are still struggling and working for the white people in their companies, while they are making all the money and all this fanciness. While we working ourselves to death trying to make a dollar to have food on the table, shoes on our feet, a roof over our head and now this! This should be the last thing that we have to deal with! Racists wearing the clothes with the word "Nigga". It's bad enough that other people are calling each other this word.

Posted by: Tiffany at March 14, 2006 11:21 PM

What the! I guess the biggest question is why? What is he trying to prove by doing this? Is it supposed to be a joke? Here we struggling to find our place in this new global economy and this court jester wants to give other cultures here and abroad another reason to disrespect us and dismiss us. In case he didn't know being black in this country comes with a lot of responsibility and accountability for which he seems to possess neither.

Posted by: Lonzo at March 15, 2006 12:55 AM

WOW! Is this all this man has to spend money on....He will spend thousands to fight for this bogus idea.....When we as a race have our sisters and brothers homeless, starving and in poverty. I can see so much more he could do with the money spent. Poor man, I feel sorry for him

Posted by: DEE at March 24, 2006 09:43 AM

I sincerely think this is a bad idea, but I do love me some niggas..

Posted by: Stanley Crouch at April 9, 2006 11:31 PM

Yea it should be allowed to publish and it will sell alot thats 4 sure!! Allow it people!!

Posted by: DezMo at May 4, 2006 07:37 PM

I think it's dam right stupid... like Tiffany said, are you gonna walk around being labeled a slave. I think this would just give the racist people out there a perfect excuse to be overt about calling black people n****** and those stupid black people will give them respect thinking that the white man just trying to be hip.

Posted by: Melinda at May 10, 2006 07:22 AM

WHen will we realize that there are some african american that use race to promote there career no matter how much they hurt their own race. This is the whole problem with hip hop culture. We are not holding our own people accountable for the violence we see in our community. The message Bill Cosby preached was rejected even though the man spoke the truth. The truth will set you free and until we as african americans start holding our own accountable for their destructive ideas even though they are rich and famous we will continue to see our community fall into the pit. For when the blind leads the blind they both will fall into the pit.

Posted by: Johnny January at June 23, 2006 01:19 PM

Lord help me if I ever said something about "our race" that would be a crime would it not? If I as a white man were to make a sweeping generilazition about black people on the air, why, oh no he didnt, that would be a crime. Truth is alot of us working class white people, trying to make a livin' and puttin' food on the table havent seen a GD dime from any big corporation that you speak of. So before you blame the "white man" for everything. Wake Up! Face the music, and take responsibility for your actions. Racism is taught at the dinner table in this day and age in most cases. Obviously there is still alot out there.

Posted by: the white boy at September 12, 2006 11:51 PM

Would someome please get this man a copy of
Eyes On The Prize and sit him down and make him look at all 14 hours .

Posted by: Richard at October 4, 2006 10:18 PM


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