Via Reddit: The LDS Church is going after the Mormon trademark again. After the EFF told them to back off someone else a few years back, the LDS Church is trying again, this time with Mormon Stories.
I'm writing a memoir for Natasha Helfer who was excommunicated in 2021. Prior to that, they phoned her (NOT via a cease and desist letter, but just intimidation tactics) telling her to rebrand the organization she headed, The Mormon Mental Health Association. The EFF got involved, but wouldn't help her unless she committed. You see, previous clients over this issue had been intimidated into backing off.
She held strong, the EFF sent a well-crafted letter stating their legal position that the "Mormon" trademark cannot be enforced, for a wide number of reasons including the fact that LDS is not the only organization or group of people descended from Joseph Smith's original religion, and they backed off. I tell this story in her book.
Now they're trying again, against Mormon Stories.
Well guess what? Natasha and John are good friends. And they excommunicated him a long time ago. He is certainly not going to back down, and I hope they take this up and follow it through.
Hard to believe they sent something in writing this time. I hope the EFF steps back up to bat. They have absolutely zero exclusive right to this use term.
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/1p4wpra/lds_church_asks_mormon_stories_to_rebrand/
![Screen posted to Reddit from Insta:
Use of Church-Owned Trademarks
and Copyrighted Materials
Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Nov 14
to openstoriesboard@gmail.com,
Dear Mr. Dehlin,
I'm reaching out to you regarding trademarks and
copyrighted materials used by Open Stories Foundation
My name is [redacted] and | manage the Intellectual
Property Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints. Part of my responsibilities is to help
maintain the integrity of trademarks and copyrights
owned by the Church.
My office has received questions and comments from
the public regarding materials on the “Mormon Stories”, YouTube page, and other social media pages that feature Church
trademarks and copyrights. While the Church respects
your right to host a podcast, operate a website, and
maintain an online brand, the Church has an obligation
to protect its trademarks as unique identifiers to prevent
confusion about what is and isn't official Church
content.
For example, the “Mormon Stories” name and logo
(shown below) incorporate Church trademarks including
the word “Mormon” and a “light-rays” design, both of
which are registered trademarks of the Church. The RY)
headers of your podcast’s YouTube
and Facebook pages similarly feature the Christus logo
°
Liked by johndehlin and others
Feeling terrified that the LDS church wants
to use lawfare to shut down Mormon Stories Podcast via
trademark claims after we've been in operation for 20
years. Please help me find an IP expert if you can.](https://files.defcon.social/dcsocial-s3/media_attachments/files/115/607/109/729/748/508/original/92748ed3562898f0.png)