Bula Trademark controversy makes it all the way to the BBC

[Kojo Douglas]

This is huge.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45675016

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

This is huge.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45675016

Thanks for being so instrumental in getting that ball rolling. It's unstoppable now.

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

I find it interesting that nobody ever bade any fuss when other companies trademarked Bula. Like this one---BULA, INC., DURANGO, CO.
Does this mean that this guy can not trademark it since it was already taken or does the Inc go with the Bula in the trademark?
Here is a bula trademark on clothing at walmart---https://www.walmart.com/browse/bula/YnJhbmQ6QnVsYQieie.
At least BULA LOOPS is from Fiji.
There are even a few companies that trademarked "Aloha" Like this one---https://aloha.com/.

Chris

 

[The Kap'n]

I find it interesting that nobody ever bade any fuss when other companies trademarked Bula. Like this one---BULA, INC., DURANGO, CO.
Does this mean that this guy can not trademark it since it was already taken or does the Inc go with the Bula in the trademark?
Here is a bula trademark on clothing at walmart---https://www.walmart.com/browse/bula/YnJhbmQ6QnVsYQieie.
At least BULA LOOPS is from Fiji.
There are even a few companies that trademarked "Aloha" Like this one---https://aloha.com/.

Chris

Any normal business would have trademarked their entire business name, instead of one word. Not only that, it's being trademarked to sell kava, a word that has been synonymous with kava drinking since I can remember. Because the TM was granted in the way that it was, it prevents others from using the word in any business name. It would be like "Taco Bell" trademarking the word "Taco" to prevent any other food restaurant from using it in their name or advertising.

There are many business that have the word "Aloha" trademarked alone in the name, but the businesses vary in what they do by a wild amount, which is why the trademark office had allowed the use at all. There are also others that have trademarked the word "bula" in other instances, but not one as targeted as this. "Bula" is a specific word used in the kava drinking community, further underscoring that the word doesn't belong to one person.

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

Any normal business would have trademarked their entire business name, instead of one word. Not only that, it's being trademarked to sell kava, a word that has been synonymous with kava drinking since I can remember. Because the TM was granted in the way that it was, it prevents others from using the word in any business name. It would be like "Taco Bell" trademarking the word "Taco" to prevent any other food restaurant from using it in their name or advertising.

There are many business that have the word "Aloha" trademarked alone in the name, but the businesses vary in what they do by a wild amount, which is why the trademark office had allowed the use at all. There are also others that have trademarked the word "bula" in other instances, but not one as targeted as this. "Bula" is a specific word used in the kava drinking community, further underscoring that the word doesn't belong to one person.

So does that mean that this guy can trademark "Bula" because this other company has the "Inc" in there trademark?

Chris

 

[The Kap'n]

So does that mean that this guy can trademark "Bula" because this other company has the "Inc" in there trademark?

Chris

No. The patent officer obviously didn’t do enough research. With even a litle knowledge of Fiji and kava it would never have been granted. This also makes it rather challengable, which is a silver lining.