William Carlos Williams wants his Art back, please.

[MacAllister]

I don't usually make these statements publicly, but in this case, my hand is rather forced.

Moblues just sent me a private message threatening legal action over the term "modern minimalist" which he's claiming is trademark infringement.

Now, as a forum owner and longtime lawyer-fee-payer, I absolutely must take these things dead seriously, no matter how ridiculous.

In this case, moblues trying to claim invention of term and prior use is patent bullshit. Modern and Minimalist and Modern Minimalism have been used as terms of art for decades (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=modern+minimalist).

He'll no more be trademarking the term than I shall be trademarking "French Impressionism" or "photorealism."

Unfortunately, once a member has escalated a disagreement to the point of threatening me with a C&D and other legal action over a title, there simply isn't any room left to work out our differences in a more appropriate and amiable manner.

This is why Moblues is permanently leaving AW.

[KTC]

Jesus Christ. I have been so fed up with things in regards to this topic. I haven't said a single thing publicly...but man, when I think something has gone WAY too far and then it goes farther...it just BLOWS me away.

Sorry you had to deal with this, Mac. It's outrageous. I'd like to apologize on behalf of reasonable poets everywhere.

Keep up the excellent work.

[MacAllister]

I'm now wondering about filing a patent on the Petrarchan sonnet form. Then perhaps I can travel the world, filthy rich from the licensing fees...

[KTC]

I'm now wondering about filing a patent on the Petrarchan sonnet form. Then perhaps I can travel the world, filthy rich from the licensing fees...

Just don't touch 'Freefall Poetry'. That one's mine.

[caseyquinn]

FYI - All joking aside, I really invented rhyming poetry.

[Medievalist]

I invented meter. Also metre.

All your stanzas are belong to us.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[Cella]

Next thing we know, you're going to be stealing our ideas!

[KTC]

I invented meter. Also metre.

All your stanzas are belong to us.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

lolcatz poetry fighters

[Paul]

love poems and teen angst - mine ok?

[Medievalist]

Next thing we know, you're going to be stealing our ideas!

In my neck of the woods those are called idears.

And yes, I think I'll start TM all the Petrachan conventions right away.

[Xelebes]

Um. . . what?

[Kateness]

In my neck of the woods those are called idears.

Not to be confused with iDeers®, Apple's latest product. Handily jumps out in front of your car, eats the berries on your lawn, and even has realistic antlers for maximum vehicle damage.

[thothguard51]

Poets, they are a sensative lot...

[Synonym]

"modern minimalist" Trademark infringement? I googled the words and got 2,280,000 results.

ROTFLMAO. Modelusional?

[KTC]

"modern minimalist" Trademark infringement? I googled the words and got 2,280,000 results.

ROTFLMAO. Modelusional?

only 2,280,000 results? is google broken today?

[Synonym]

eh. Maybe it's a slow day? LOL

[peg]

Maybe he could call it "A Very Short Broken Up Sentence Without Articles" poetry.

Unbelievable.

[Xelebes]

Modern Minimalism is a term used a lot in architecture, usually in reference to designs that defy both post-modernism and post-minimalism and continue in the tradition of the East-inspired modernism.

[KTC]

Maybe he could call it "A Very Short Broken Up Sentence Without Articles" poetry.

Unbelievable.

omg, i think i love you

[Priene]

Moblues just sent me a private message threatening legal action over the term "modern minimalist" which he's claiming is trademark infringement.


(facepalm)

I'm really sorry it's a poet giving you this grief.

By the way, I'm appropriating the term Russian Futurism and have issued a cease and desist notice to the late Viktor Khlebnikov (1885-1922).

Oh, and double line breaks are mine as well, just in case anyone's thinking of using them.

[Priene]

Just a further thought: moblues' claim to copyright infringement opens up a can of worms. If he indeed does (personally I doubt he'd win in court) have intellectual ownership of the term, he also possibly has ownership of the form itself, which is principally a set of formatting features. He might then have the right to stop others using the form, as you'd be consuming his intellectual property. Something to think about, next time you're thinking of writing in "Modern Minimalist" style.

[caseyquinn]

Yes, Priene, great point. I think to be safe no one else should write in that form on this forum just so Mac doesn't get in trouble...

[Ken]

... good poet in any event. Wouldn't be surprised to open an anthology of poetry in the near and see him there. Seems like he got a bit out of line on this occasion. But which one of us hasn't at some time or other? In a few days time I'm guessing he'll see things in a new light.

[KTC]

no one else should write in that form on this forum.

I AGREE.

[AW Admin]

... good poet in any event. Wouldn't be surprised to open an anthology of poetry in the near and see him there. Seems like he got a bit out of line on this occasion. But which one of us hasn't at some time or other? In a few days time I'm guessing he'll see things in a new light.

Your first assertion is debatable, your second is doubtful, and the third isn't your decision to make.

Moblues has been perm banned by MacAllister. That's not up for discussion or debate, though you are welcome to take it up with her in PM.

And lest you be mistaken, this a formal warning at Mac's specific request: the fact that Moblues has been banned is not up for discussion.

[Synonym]

I wouldn't have any second thoughts either. Threatening legal action over two words that are obviously not qualified for being trademarked is completely off the charts--not a little out of line.

[Albedo of Zero]

In my neck of the woods those are called idears.



What do you call a deer with no eyes?



No-eyed deer.

[Guardian]

I invented avatars, so all of you must C&D and a certain movie director owes me billions.

(naw it's cool. But as a unicorn I think someone owes me a lot of money for defamation.)

[Ken]

... 'banned.' I didn't know that. After reading the OP, I'd thought a mutual agreement had been reached and he'd left of his own accord after a discussion with Mac. I'm not taking sides or questioning things. If my previous post came across that way I didn't intend it to. I still stand by what I said though. No more from me on the subject.

[MacAllister]

No. He made a demand, with accompanying legal threats. I've removed the forum from view, but find the assertion of trademark infringement completely ludicrous; and there's absolutely no room for that sort of behavior here. If we want to put the room back, by popular demand, we damned well will. I'd rather see a sonnet workroom, though, personally.

Regardless, Moblues is no longer welcome at AW under any circumstances.

I'll point out that trying to trademark a poetry form isn't gonna happen, and it's the worst kind of grandiose delusional bullshit to threaten me with that.

I'll further point out that anyone who wants to continue writing in the form is certainly welcome to do so, but not at the expense of more thoroughly-worked, carefully-composed forms. How that sorts itself out in the actual practice of the room, we'll see. But poets have been working in various modern minimalist forms for around a century.


The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams (http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=7349)

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

(1923) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Wheelbarrow)

[Stew21]

Mac, thank you for handling this so well. Much appreciated. And on a lighter note, William Carlos Williams... AW style!!!! (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37674)