Finding Humor in Trademarks(tm)? 48
psycona asks: "I was staring at the back of a Schick razor package and saw the words SmartDesign(tm). Now if that isn't one of the most idiotic appropriations of the English language I've ever seen. Which got me to thinking. I'm pretty sure there are web sites out there that list stuff like this, but what are your favourite marketroid phrases? I'm talking about any (tm)-ed or (r)-ed word that shouldn't be, or phrases like 'Designed For Humans!' As a proud cynic and self-professed guardian of plain (or at least good) English, I'd find it amusing to know what else was out there." Well, I think I'll beat a few folks to the punch and nominate the whole "... for Dummies" line of books. I'm sure many of you have several others.
Stuff that matters. (Score:1)
Silly Trademarks (Score:3)
Cheer cleans better...
"That's because only Cheer has Liquifiber{tm}."
And only Microsoft has Windows Northern Telecom.
Powerful, indeed (Score:1)
Re:Moronic slugout (Score:1)
Cambridge Technology Partners (Score:2)
We're in the TORRID ZONE!
Re:Moronic slugout (Score:3)
Nazi (tm) (Score:1)
A couple jump to mind... (Score:2)
"Software for the Agile Business" - Microsoft. 'Nuff said.
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A common misconception (Score:2)
However, if you really like making sure you are in explicit control of your works, you slap the following into every one of your books:
© 1990-2001 White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire: The Masquerade, Vampire: The Dark Ages, World of Darkness, Aberrant and Mage: The Ascension are registered trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Trinity, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Wraith: The Oblivion, Changeling: The Dreaming, Kindred of the East, Werewolf: The Wild West, Trinity: Battleground, Wraith: The Great War, Guide to the Technocracy, Technocracy Progenitors, Technocracy Iteration X, Technocracy New World Order, Technocracy Void Engineers, Technocracy Syndicate, Technomancers Toybox, Isle of the Mighty, Digital Web 2.0, Year of the Reckoning, Hunter: The Reckoning, Mage: The Sorcerers Crusade, Mind's Eye Theatre, Mind's Eye Theatre Journal, Dark Kingdom of Jade, Ends of Empire, A World of Darkness Second Edition, Mummy Second Edition, Mummy: The Resurrection, Clanbook Cappadocian, Clanbook Nosferatu, Clanbook Toreador, Clanbook Brujah, Clanbook Gangrel, Clanbook Salubri, Clanbook Baali, Clanbook Ventrue, Clanbook Tremere, Clanbook Assamite, Clanbook Ravnos, Clanbook Setite, Clanbook Malkavian, Clanbook Lasombra, Clanbook Tzimisce, Guide to the Camarilla, Guide to the Sabbat, World of Darkness: Gypsies, Year of Revelations and all other publications by White Wolf are trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text herein are copyrighted by White Wolf Publishing, Inc.
And just in case the tables turn, slap on an extra: "The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned."
And then, since you're publishing teen-killing RPGs (remember D&D during the 80s?), you add: "These products use the supernatural for settings, characters and themes. All mystical and supernatural elements are fiction and intended for entertainment purposes only. Reader discretion is advised."
That *whole* thing is in each book published! Talk about covering all your bases.
--
Evan
Re:Here's one I saw today (Score:2)
more mcdonalds.. (Score:3)
Gospelfest
McBaby
McBacon
McBurger
McBus
McCafe
MCDirect Shares
McDouble
McDrive
McFamily
McFranchise
McHero
McKroket
McMaco
McNifica
McOz
Teriyaki McBurger
Vegi Mac
at one time i know they had McLobster listed, but i couldn't find it anymore.
In a crowded elevator (Score:1)
Re:Here's one I saw today (Score:2)
Indeed. Notice the use of the words "proactive", "proactively", and even (I've never seen this one before...dictionary.com denies any knowledge of it) "proactivity". Four varients in one short page. I think that I shall go and proactively retch, lest the concentrated marketroid speak poison my bloodstream.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | http://www.infamous.net/
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:2)
This is basically true. A local restaurant decided that they would call themselves McSushi. Before they even opened, the McLawyers sent them a "cease and desist" letter. They are now called We Be Sushi [sfstation.com]. True to their name, they serve perfectly adequate sushi at a great price.
Office Depot (Score:1)
BTW, one can search for trademarks here [uspto.gov].
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:1)
Not even, say, "mcgospelfest"?
How utterly, utterly bizarre. What are they up to? No good, I'll wager...
Moronic slugout (Score:2)
Which would ya rather be -- condescended to, or insulted? Now you have a choice!
Names.. (Score:1)
2. Company name: "The Age of Travel", slogan: "Our name says it all!"
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:2)
Joe Boxer (Score:1)
umm... a planned obsolecense of sorts?
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:1)
Re:Slashdo........ (redundant) (Score:1)
But I still think I said it better.
Slashdo........ (Score:2)
Oh, wait. There's no (tm) or ® after that.
This is news? This matters?
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:2)
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:1)
Re:University of Alberta's slogan (Score:1)
"Biting the hand that feeds IT"
bizarre underwear slogan (Score:1)
CHANGE DAILY! (tm)
I don't know which is funnier/more pathetic: that they have to tell you to change your underwear, or that they had to trademark that phrase.
McOz (Score:2)
In Australia there IS a McDonald's hamburger called the McOz. It's highlight is a slice of beetroot.
It was out 'for a limited time' a few years back, and was supposedly so successful that they replaced the McFeast with it.
So, yeah, the McOz exists, and you have to come to Australia to get one ;)
(The thing is at the moment in Australia McDonalds have a a 'limited time' burger called 'Burgermeister'. The ad features a very bad German accent; supposedly the burger is German. The meat on the burger is aledgedly pork. There is even a website here [burgermeister.com]. Why not McGerman?)
GE (Score:2)
Sadly, this story is a mnemonic virus. Every time I've seen/heard the slogan since, Frankenstein's monster pops into my head. I wonder if any other slogans/trademarks have been hijacked this way.
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Here's one I saw today (Score:4)
I got these links from Google [google.com], which seems to be slogan-less.
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McLobster (Score:1)
I remember when the Canadian newspaper, National Post, was about to be launched, thier future competater, The Globe and Mail, trademarked all kinds of names for newspapers not to use them, but to limit the choice of names for the new paper.
Re:Moronic slugout (Score:1)
-Rylfaeth
Re:Moronic slugout (in Japanese) (Score:1)
I wonder if the first astronauts were given such manuals.
ByteBlaster(tm) (Score:2)
University of Alberta's slogan (Score:2)
"Making it happen"
Seems innocious enough, right? Now here's the kicker. The CompSci department adjusts it slightly: "Making IT happen..." as in IT
My favorite McTrademark (Score:1)
My favorites are these
"Made For You" (tm)
"Hey, It Could Happen!" (tm)
"Immunize for Healthy Lives" (tm)
and what in heck is a "McMaco" (tm)?
Pretty Silly (Score:1)
For starters: They don't distribute tacky watches, let alone bad smelling perfumes and if you've ever had the doubtful pleasure to be a member in this Kinderkarten-Club, you wouldn't necessarily consider this brand a commercial endorsement.
Re:University of Alberta's slogan (Score:1)
Arrghghg.. make it stop.
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Personal Slogan (Score:1)
stupid college ads. (Score:1)
one of the colleges here in buffalo has a special night program for continuing education. the deal is that you take 2 classes 2 nights a week and get 12 credits toward your B.A.
i certainly hope they're not trying to advertise anything even vaguely related to math education.
--saint----
Re:My Favourite: (Score:1)
That joke is older than your average script kiddie, and I've always heard it demean Windows users, not Mac users.
Try to come up with something original, kneebiter.
Re:University of Alberta's slogan (Score:1)
Hopefully I don't get arrested for this post, RIT has to take some criticism sometimes...
Re:Here's one I saw today (Score:1)
That last link led to a page of 99.44% pure BS! That's rare stuff.
Check out the inside back cover of every issue of Consumer Reports for some of the more egregious examples of marketroid english butchering.
Grayswan,
trademark (Score:1)
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:1)
"Let's go to a McMovie."
"McF--- You!"
"This paper I have to write McSucks."
There were many more.
Re:more mcdonalds.. (Score:1)
Black History Makers of tomorrow
Is this a reference to McJobholders?
That's harsh. Dial 911-ACLU.
Got one (Score:2)
By the way First Post
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AdCritic!! (Score:1)