The Fight for the Name
Dykes On Bikes The Fight for the Name
| EAfter many year of following the political correct movement, it was time to regain pride in the original name “Dykes On Bikes!” February 2004 the San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent Starts fighting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the right to use and trademark the name "Dykes on Bikes," a term that the U.S. Patent and Trademark office deems too vulgar to trademark. It was a three-year fight, however the San Francisco Motorcycle Contingent finally won the rights to call themselves “Dykes On Bikes” and have the trademark to prove it.
The fight for the use of the name “Dykes On Bikes” has become a prescient case that is being used to win other on the fence fights. Lynda Zadra-Symes, a trademark lawyer in California, said Damon Wayans maybe successful. She compared "Nigga" to the successful registration of Dykes on Bikes. The San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent fought the Trademark Office for three years to overturn an initial rejection of a Dykes on Bikes trademark. (Cabenhead) This helps to give the name even more power and pride. The Dykes On Bikes have been seen as such a threat that the trademark was challenged in 2008 by Attorney Michael McDermott, who challenged the trademark as an individual acting on his own behalf, said today he considers the Dykes on Bikes name to be "hostile to men." He argued in his opposition to the trademark that the name was disparaging to men and immoral. Lawyers for Dykes on Bikes weren't immediately available for comment Monday, but attorney Brooke Oliver said last year that the appeals court ruling showed that "asserting pride in being 'Dykes on Bikes' does not impact others negatively." (Supreme) So trademark still stands to this date with no more challenges, but with people ready and willing to fight for it again if needed. |
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Dykes on Bikes: San Francisco, CA 1976-2010
Researched and Writtened by Susan Rennie
Contact: <a href="mailto:rennie.susan@gmail.com">rennie.susan@gmail.com</a>
