Plagiarism OK for Mary Burke but don't Use the Word TREK

Right Wisconsin reports that although Mary Burke has now been busted once for stealing other people's work and claiming it to be her own, but that her family business while she worked there fought to keep anyone from being allowed to have Trek in their name or use the word period.

Right Wisconsin:

These Are Just 10 of More Than 200 Actions Filed By Trek Bicycle Corporation While Mary Burke Was Employed Or On The Board Of Directors:

 

• The Sunday School Board Of The Southern Baptist Convention Filed A Trademark For “Kidtrek” To Provide “Information In The Field Of Religion Via A Global Computer Network Website”. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91116246, Filed 12/9/99) 

• High Adventure Treks For Dads & Daughters Was A Group That Wanted To “Promote Interaction Between Dads And Daughters Through The Organization Of Outdoor Adventure”. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91165328, Filed 5/25/05) 

• Trek Filed Opposition Against The Boy Scouts Of America. They filed a trademark for a image “Trek Safely”, that was designed for printed materials with safety procedures for outdoor activities. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 75982874, Filed 2/25/03)

• American Lung Association Wanted To Use The Image Trek Tri-Island To Raise Money For Lung Disease Research And Public Education Through A Bicycle Event. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 76115353, Filed 1/18/02)

• The Great American Duck Races, Inc. Were Fought By Trek Bicycle Corporation Because They Wanted To Use “Turtle Trek”. The charity provides fund-raising services involving toy turtles. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91122911, Filed 4/6/01)

• The Reading Trek Was Filed As A Trademark For Computer Software To Teach Reading. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91116248, Filed 11/24/99) 

• The University Of Oregon Filed For A Trademark “Career Trek” That Was For “Computer Programs For Use By Teachers In Teaching Children”. The programs were primarily for children at the elementary and middle school level. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91164182, Filed 2/11/05)

• The National Center For Training And Educational Assistance Filed For The Use Of “Tutor Trek”. The trademark was for training manuals for tutors. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91161745, 8/12/04)

• Trek Bicycle Filed Opposition Against Remy Martin Because They Wanted To Use Trek In Naming Trek Cognac De Voyage. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91115459, Filed 9/20/99)

• Sub Sea Systems, Inc. Wanted To Use An Image For Their Underwater Walking Equipment Called “Sea Trek”. (US Patent and Trademark Office, Opposition Number 91119507, File)

Strangely, the estate of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry appears to have been spared the “Wrath of Trek.” So, sometimes, it appears, proprietary words are a big deal. Perhaps the next embarrassing campaign moment for Burke could be for a reporter to ask her to define proprietary. Okay, definitely piling on.