cosplay fans around the world.

i appeal to everyone of you to take note of this issue which has sprung up in my country, Singapore.

i direct everyone's attention to this website.
http://www.worldcosplay.com/

One of our cosplay clubs(Singapore Cosplay Club) has trademarked the term "cosplay".

trademarking a name for a hobby is EXTREMELY selfish.

i don't see anyone else in the world trademarking "basketball", "judo", "photography". etc.

so i don't see why anyone would have the rights, even with Nobuyuki Takahashi, the person who coined the term "cosplay" backing them, to trademark the term, making it a possibile COMMERCIAL entity.

i say. let the term be free for anyone to use.

who is to say one day the very same person who trademarked the term would charge us money for using it? or even sue us for using it?

would you risk having to one day not able to use the term "cosplay"?

i certainly do NOT!

plus.
if they manage to pull this off, this trend would spread to malaysia, and possibily to other countries.

help spread the word about this selfish act!
and help us maintain our hobby as something free for everyone to enjoy!

I mentioned this to the Secretary General of the Philippine IP Coalition last year. He says generic terms cannot be registered as trademarks.

The International Trademark Association concurs, to wit:
________________

What is a Generic Term?

A generic term is a word or phrase that is or has come to be the common term associated with or known as a particular category of goods or services to which it relates, thereby ceasing to function as an indicator of origin. For example, “clock” is a generic term for timepieces. Generic designations are not registrable or protectable.

A trademark may potentially become generic if it becomes so widely known and used with a particular category of goods or services as to designate the category of goods or services. In such instances, the "mark" will not be registrable and a previous registration for such a "mark" may be subject to cancellation by a third party.

Examples of marks that have become generic over time include “escalator,” “linoleum,” “zipper” and “yo-yo.” This loss of trademark status is sometimes referred to as “genericide.” It should be noted that what is generic in one country may not necessarily be generic in another, for example, the designation ASPIRIN is generic in the U.S. but is not in other countries.
________________

As indicated by the last sentence, you should prove to the Intellecual Property Office of Singapore that the term cosplay is generic in Singapore.

i'm the originator of the appeal which 10thmandown was so kind to help me spread the word.

the situation is as so in brief:
"cosplay" has already been trademarked in singapore.
(refer to this link as proof: http://tmsearch.ipos.gov.sg/eTMSearch/eReg...TmNo=T0412796D)

there is a commercial entity which is suing the club for trademarking a generic term(cosplay).

i am in support of them getting the case through to get that trademark removed.

and i am appealing for support and raise awareness that this sort of thing is happening, and that it would spread to malaysia(as clearly noted in the website provided in the first post) and possibily become a trend?

this should not happen to a hobby. not ever.

i would be extremely grateful to everyone here if all of you lend me your support in this and stop this from happening.

==========================
discussions in a singapore forum is underway.
links here
http://sgcafe.com/showthread.php?t=26803

and here is for when the issue first came up.
http://sgcafe.com/showthread.php?t=2...ight=trademark

"we trademarked the word Cosplay so that event companies in Singapore cannot use it to attract people only, to hold a fashion show/parade or for product launches that have nothing to do with Cosplay." - from the worldcosplay webpage

that would hold false as they have authorised/not stopped a sex awareness drive to promote their event as "cosplay for a cause".

cosplayers are used as commerical tools to promote safe sex.

not that it is a bad thing to promote safe sex. but what image does it give the general public of cosplayers? how is safe sex got anything to do with cosplay?

Gawd! that was a very selfish move by singapore cosplay club..


@Keokepa your link doesnt work XD

which link(s)?
i'll try to fix them.

Ugh! And I thought hobbies are all free

i'm trying my best to keep it that way.

free for anyone to enjoy.

Hobbies should be free for all.

Sad to say, my country just has a stupid club.

Hmm, for fairness sake, I think SCC have a good intention why they trademarked the term "Cosplay".

I've known SCC through my dealings and network, though I haven't met them personally yet, I believe their cause and support them with their idea. Though I won't be supporting in terms of "funds" ;)

Trademarking the term "Cosplay" has been in the discussion table since 1999 (if I remember the year correctly), and was participated by different anime, game, sci-fi and cosplay groups. The discussion failed because no IPR Offices in our respective countries will accept the application.

Additionally, if say they will prevent the use of the term 'Cosplay' for "real cosplay" purposes, I believe they will lose the rights to the term, as it is already generic.

Secondly, trademarking the term "cosplay" in other countries won't be that easy ;) As I mentioned above, it was attempted years ago and failed.

Thirdly, assuming trademarking the term 'cosplay' in other countries will be a success, they will easily lose the rights to it as again and again, its a generic term already. Take for example the trademark names "Xerox", they are slowly losing rights to it because people are using the name/term "Xerox" instead of "photocopy(ing)".

Oh additionally, the IPR law requires all registered trademarks to have ®, ™, or (SM) if you want to exert the power to protect the said trademark. If you don't, then you are openly revoking your rights to your own trademark especially if it's a "registered trademark". Take for example Nintendo requiring all news, reviews and what not to put an ® after GameBoy® as such - GameBoy®. Coz "GameBoy" is different from "GameBoy®". Additionally, you want to show the world that "GameBoy®" is not a generic term and shouldn't be used as a generic term or you'll sue them. Yes, Nintendo is suing people (if they have time that is) if they write GameBoy® without the ® - like so GameBoy. :P hehe oops wait GameBoy®.


Hmm, there are more into trademarking and it will take longer to explain, example, there's a difference between using ® and ™. But to think more about it..... nah, too long to explain.

SCC stated on worldcosplay.com that they "went to trademark the term of Cosplay in Singapore to prevent any further abuses" and that they "trademarked "Cosplay" in Singapore not to own the term, but to put a proper definition to it.".

that isn't what a trade mark application is for
.
trade mark does nothing to prevent abuses of the word "cosplay".

i quote vince123123 from the singapore forum
"A trade mark registration may not in fact stop anyone from using the word cosplay if such use is not to designate the origin of goods/services."

good intentions or not.

fact is, the means(the trademark) doesn't meet the end result(prevent abuse of the word "cosplay").

I think he means this: the trademark in question.

that link seems to work for me...

but i've manage to print screen the website

it is quite a big image.
i would share it if it is possible

how do i load pictures up here???
or is that even allowed?

It does for everyone now. I fixed it.

thanks :)

Looks like some people are in for a hefty refund. Now posted on worldcosplay.com, which is controlled by the Singapore Cosplay Club:

Relevant organisations are now in discussion with each other.

Please take note that the appeal amounts will now to sent back to all who have kindly donated by paypal and pledges.

Thank you for those who have been concerned enough to come in here. We will let you know of the progress of the matter.

the situation now has more or less come to a standstill.

the ball is in SCC and it's management's hand now

so we'll have to see what they will do.


i thank everyone's support and attention up to this point.

and i hope that none of this drama or insensitivity would ever happen to the cosplay community of whichever country you came from.

Imagine™ what™ the™ world™ would™ be™ like™ if™ everyone™ trademarked™ every™ word™ that™ was™ ever™ added™ to™ the™ language.™ It™ would™ get™ pretty™ tiresome™ really™ fast.™ -- Dave Winer.

hahaha

can i use that???

thats really funny and it makes lots of sense

It's not mine. It's Dave Winer's. ;)

hahaha
well
i'll credit him for writing it and credit you for show it to me :P

i think we can have a cosplay not to be trademarked cuz we want cosplay and it's our hobby and i love cosplay cuz it's make me who really i'm in the costume that reflects me as a cosplayer and a person :)

but i don't think that the cosplay will be trademarked i officially refused!