I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child, Save Jerseyans, let alone have the fruit of your loins killed.
I also can’t imagine filing TWO applications to TRADEMARK my deceased child’s name just weeks later! But then again, I’m not the mother of the late Trayvon Martin.
Mega hat tip to The Smoking Gun:
Sabrina Fulton is seeking marks for the phrases “I Am Trayvon” and “Justice for Trayvon,” according to filings made last week with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In both instances, Fulton is seeking the trademarks for use on “Digital materials, namely, CDs and DVDs featuring Trayvon Martin,” and other products.
The March 21 USPTO applications, each of which cost $325, were filed by an Orlando, Florida law firm representing Fulton.
Martin, 17, was shot to death last month during a confrontation with George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain. Martin, pictured above, was visiting his father’s home in Sanford, Florida when he was shot to death by Zimmerman, who has claimed that he was acting in self-defense. (6 pages)
Click here to view the source documents.
Whether this young man’s mother is trying to cash in, or is simply being given poor public relations advice from her Florida attorney, will remain a wide-open question for the time being, folks. I’ll leave such speculation to the cable news talking heads. Frankly, the rush to judgment on the substance of this case from BOTH sides of the political divide is more than a little gross.
And sure, you could even argue “Hey, Matt! Her son died. Why shouldn’t she trademark his name and start a campaign to advocate for his side of the story?” Fine. Point taken. Or, alternatively, you may posit that she’s trying to control the use of her son’s name for a more noble purpose and to prevent its commercialization. Perhaps.
Suffice it to say, regardless of where you come down on this story, it’s indisputable that traditional notions of proper decorum in the midst of tragedy have become antiquated in the new media age.
