Trademarking style names

[Su Lin]

Just wondering if anyone had come across this before. Over here in the UK Lau Gar has been trademarked, so essentially anyone practising it outside the BKFA shouldn't really be using the name.
Has anyone experienced this in kung fu , with different associations maybe?

[SPJ]

Dun know much about the legal aspects.

However, MA is dynamically evolving over time with practitioners of each generation. Meaning new interpretations, new moves or modifications will be added on or dropped etc.

Each teacher may start a new substyle/version of the same original forms/postures. Naming the same posture may be veried, too. Over time, it will be very different from the original then a new branch is thus formed.

For example, penetraing palm with squatting stance or Pu Bu Chuan Zhang is the generic name.

Some called it Golden Dragon Enters the Sea or Jing Long Ru Hai.

Some called it Sparrow Flying over the water or Yang Zhi Cao Shui.

Some called it --

So trademarking some names may not mean much.

Just some thoughts.

[Su Lin]

interesting, it's the style name that's been trademarked though.Apparently, that means that there shouldnt be schools using the name Lau Gar, nor should tshirts etc be printed or used by other clubs. Essentially its saying that the name Lau Gar shouldnt be used by anyone who isnt authorised to do so by the association.

[SPJ]

interesting, it's the style name that's been trademarked though.Apparently, that means that there shouldnt be schools using the name Lau Gar, nor should tshirts etc be printed or used by other clubs. Essentially its saying that the name Lau Gar shouldnt be used by anyone who isnt authorised to do so by the association.

In that sense, yes. by all means.

Some people even trademark their personal names.

[SPJ]

If you trademark something, you have to define what it means, includes or excludes.

This would limit the interpretations and broadening/adding/modifying things/moves/postures over time.

In this sense, it may not be a good idea.

[Su Lin]

Yep I agree. Trying to find out more info on what's included or excluded.
Wondered if this had been done elsewhere in the world, as I do find it slightly concerning.
I understand that Masters dont want other schools to teach the style badly or to bring the style into disrepute, but it's the first time I have heard of it for a martial art.

[Su Lin]

Interesting...just read one of KFM articles http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/maga...hp?article=398 and Shaolin may be tradmarked too.
Interesting artcile btw.

[GeneChing]

Trademarking martial arts names is always dicey. If it's a new martial art, like say TaeBo, it's easy to do. If it's something older, something traditional, it's a little trickier. You might look into past cases. Probably the most intriguing would be GM Leung Ting's effort to trademark Wing Tsun. I touched on that in another old cover story from 2003.