From: "skillman" <skillman@gateway.net>
To: "Hugh Lovel" <uai@alltel.net>
Subject: Good Morning!!
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 09:27:45 -0400
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Mary Ann Skillman
1301 20th Street, N.W., #517
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 463-4815 phone, (202) 463-0858 FAX
skillman@gateway.net
Greetings Hugh and Happy Fourth of July!! I just finished reading some
of your posts regarding the protesting of the application for
patent/trademark of the term biodynamic to be used exclusively by Demeter.
First of all I agree with you - biodynamics is growing all over the
world and how it is to be developed is yet to be seen. Biodynamics needs
to be developed. I spend a lot of time in Switzerland and when you go
into a store there is biodynamic food and then there is Demeter certified
food - the government has a certifying process on all foods coming into
the country as they are very concerned about what foods are given to their
children especially. Regarding patents and trademarks - I have a friend
in Washington D.C. who was in an organization with me which used a generic
term to describe its purpose. She has recently incorporated and is in
process of trying to trademark/patent this generic term as a part of her
recently formed corporation - thus asking us to desist from the use of this
generic term that we have been using for over 13 years. Our group has
filed a protest in the patent/trademark office here in Washington, D.C. If
it can be proven, that you have used a generic term in writing for a
prolonged period of time, it is like homesteading a piece of land that has
now become yours simply through the use of it continuously. Perhaps that
could be an argument for you - that you can prove use of the word
biodynamic - Can you also apply for the trademark yourself???? as a part
of Union Agricultural Institute??? It does take a while for the
trademarks to be approved so perhaps you could also apply. Hope to see
you in Blairsville at your 3 day conference. All the best. Mary Ann
Skillman
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