To SSQQ
Dance Studio -
I have
copied Tobin Boenig of the Collegiate Licensing Office at Texas A&M
University on this communication. I
request that SSQQ contact him immediately. His phone number is (409)
845-4621.
Your use
of the term “Forbidden Word” in your advertizements in the “Leisure
Learning” Magazine found in grocery stores all around Houston and
prominently displayed on your website “ssqq.com” IS AN INFRINGEMENT
ON A TRADEMARK HELD BY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY.
I personally do not have the authority to prevent you from using
the trademark as I am not a University official, but it was my
understanding that Mr. Boenig was issuing a Cease and Desist Order to
your company after he and I talked several months ago.
The term “Forbidden Word” and the logo of Texas A&M is trademarked
(by a state trademark) in the state of Texas by TAMU.
I am the
Special Events Director of the Forbidden Word Professional Forum.
We are a non-profit organization associated with other Houston
area A&M alumni clubs, the Houston A&M and Reveille Clubs,
through a Houston area coordinating board.
Our purpose is to raise scholarships for current students of
Texas A&M University.
Alumni
organizations are permitted by the University to use such terms.
A year and a half ago, we began teaching “Forbidden Word dance
lessons” that are taught by former Forbidden Word Wranglers (a dance troupe on
campus). Our biggest
selling point to Forbidden Word alumni in Houston is the fact that they are
taught by former Forbidden Word Wranglers, in general our draw is that they are
“Forbidden Word classes taught by Forbidden Words with
Forbidden Word dance steps.”
Let me
preface the following by saying, since you have not already refrained
from using the trademark, I am assuming that the University has not
actually contacted you yet and that you are, to date, unaware of the
trademark infringement. And to the best of my knowledge, SSQQ does not own or
otherwise direct the business decisions of Leisure Learning magazine.
When we began teaching “Forbidden Word dance lessons,” we contacted
Leisure Learning magazine in hopes to advertize (sic).
I don’t have to tell you how effective that magazine is in
Houston for items such as dance lessons.
For dance lessons in Houston, the magazine is probably more
effective than the yellow pages. In spite of our motives to raise scholarship money, their
direct response was that they “would not publish any advertizement
(sic) that was in direct competition with SSQQ”.
Because of Leisure Learning’s uncooperativeness and,
indirectly, your apparent hold on what we consider would have been our
best avenue for advertizement (sic), I am not willing to back down from the
issue of your use of the trademarks (and detailed descriptions and
references to A&M in your website).
Should
you not refrain from using the trademarks, quite honestly, I (and I’m
sure many other Houston area Forbidden Words) would find it a blatant act of
greed on both the part of SSQQ and Leisure Learning magazine and rather
disgusting that you would contribute to end the noble act of raising
scholarships for worthy students.
We are
already fighting to keep our dance lessons going.
We are a volunteer organization that does not possess the dance
lesson market presence that SSQQ has.
Your efforts to advertize (sic) “Forbidden Word Jitterbug” directly
undermine our efforts to raise scholarships.
I ask that you immediately refrain from advertizing (sic) your classes
to draw upon Forbidden Word alumni.
Stephen P.
Huzar
APF Events Coordinator
NEXT PAGE
