From: Subject: Census 2010 The Trademark of the Beast Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:59:37 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAC74A.E248A740" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAC74A.E248A740 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.seektress.com/usc2010.htm Census 2010 The Trademark of the Beast

The Trademark of the Beast

March 16, 2010
Lorie Kramer

The ever intriguing Jim Kirwan posted an article on March 16, = 2010 on=20 rense.com = entitled "Owning The = 'United=20 States=AE'". Then, a great follow up "Round Two - Who = Owns This=20 Country?" The first article referred to the trademark symbol = that=20 appears with the logo on the envelope in which the 2010 U.S. = Census form=20 is contained. This piqued my curiosity about the logo itself, and = the fact=20 that it is trademarked. I thought I'd look into it a bit.
The Patent and Trademark Office is a Bureau under the umbrella = of the=20 United States Department of Commerce. The website states = "The products=20 and services the department provides touch the lives of Americans = and=20 American companies in many ways, including weather forecasts, the=20 decennial census, and patent and trademark protection for = inventors and=20 businesses."
According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a = trademark=20 is one of three types of intellectual property protection. Those = three=20 types are: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights. Regarding = Trademarks; the=20 aforementioned Office states, = "Trademarks=20 include any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination, = used, or=20 intended to be used in commerce to identify and distinguish the = goods of=20 one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by = others, and=20 to indicate the source of the goods. Service marks include any = word, name,=20 symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, = in=20 commerce, to identify and distinguish the services of one provider = from=20 services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the = services."
And of course, "we" have to cover our "assets"...=20 "The U.S. 2010 Census logo is the agency=92s most-used and = best-known=20 asset. It is the cornerstone of the 2010 Census program."
The trademarks (yes, there are 5/five of them) for United = States Census=20 2010 are listed as Service marks AND Trademarks. Let's look at = them.....
The following information can be confirmed here.
First, let's look at Serial Number 77804072 with a filing date = of=20 August 13, 2009

The Goods and Services are = described as=20 "IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: Personal and social services, = namely,=20 providing information related to the conduct of the U.S. Decennial = Census,=20 including the provision of such services by means of the Internet. =
FIRST USE: 20070521. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20070521.
Owner = (APPLICANT) U.S. Bureau of the Census agency of the United States=20 government UNITED STATES 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington = D.C.=20 20230
The Attorney of Record is Hector Benitez-Solivan
Type = of Mark=20 SERVICE MARK
Next, let's look at Serial Number 77804023 with a filing date = of August=20 13, 2009

Hmmmm...looks the same to me.
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: = Educational=20 services, namely, providing information and promoting public = awareness on=20 the importance of and need to participate in the Decennial Census, = including the provision of those services by means of the = Internet.=20
FIRST USE: 20070521. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20070521
Owner=20 (APPLICANT) U.S. Bureau of the Census agency of the United States=20 government UNITED STATES 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington = D.C.=20 20230.
The Attorney of Record is Hector Benitez-Solivan, = again.
Type=20 of Mark SERVICE MARK=20
Here's the next one. This one is Serial number 77323183 with a = filing=20 date of November 7, 2007. It looks the same as the previous two, = yet they=20 are registering it, yet again.

Goods and Services IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. = G &=20 S: printed publications, namely, handbooks, questionnaires and = surveys=20 relating to the Decennial Census.
FIRST USE: 20070521. FIRST = USE IN=20 COMMERCE: 20070521.
Owner (REGISTRANT) U.S. Bureau of the = Census=20 AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT UNITED STATES 1401 = Constitution=20 Avenue, NW Washington D.C. 20230.
Attorney of Record Philip J.=20 Greene
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Oh, I see, Trademark AND Service mark.
I have not seen the aforementioned logos in use, but that = doesn't mean=20 they aren't being used, I just haven't seen them. And what's with = the=20 feathers? Birds of a feather flock together? I was struck however = by the=20 circle motif. It seems to come up a lot lately.

So we go on to number 4, this one is the one that is on my = Census=20 envelope. This one is serial number 77322711 which was filed on = November=20 6, 2007.

Goods and Services IC 016. US = 002 005 022=20 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: printed materials, namely, = stickers, as=20 well as questionnaires, survey forms, Census forms, and booklets, = reports,=20 manuals, and handbooks relating to the Decennial Census.
FIRST = USE:=20 20041200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20041200
Owner (REGISTRANT) = U.S.=20 Bureau of the Census n/a AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT = UNITED=20 STATES 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington D.C. = 20230
Attorney of=20 Record Philip J. Greene
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
And on to the last one, 77322622 which was filed November 6, = 2007, the=20 day before 77322711. Wait, maybe THIS one is the one on my = envelope. They=20 look the same, why does there need to be two registered if its the = same=20 logo?=20

Goods and Services IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: research = services,=20 namely, conducting the U.S. Decennial Census, including the = provision of=20 such services by means of the Internet.
Owner (REGISTRANT) = U.S. BUREAU=20 OF THE CENSUS n/a AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT UNITED = STATES=20 1401 CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON D.C. 20230
FIRST USE: = 20061231.=20 FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20061231
Attorney of Record Philip=20 Greene
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Oh, I get it now...one is a Trademark, the other is a Service = mark.=20 Goods and Services. I guess they are covering their bases. You = know how=20 there's SO many people lining up to fake Census forms, riiiiiight.
Something stuck out for me when I examined 77323183. It lists = "Prior=20 Registrations 2296084;2316247;2518821;AND OTHERS" Prior = registrations?=20 What might those be?
Let's look at registration number 2296084. What have we here? = Filing=20 Date December 8, 1998

Word Mark FOREIGN TRADE = STATISTICS YOUR=20 KEY TO TRADE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. Huh?
Goods and Services IC = 016. US 002=20 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Publications, namely, = reports,=20 surveys, abstracts, statistical abstracts, newsletters, press = releases,=20 pamphlets, brochures, posters, magazines, calendars, journals and = booklets=20 containing and/or pertaining to business, economics, finance, = exports,=20 imports and international trade.
FIRST USE: 19980408. FIRST USE = IN=20 COMMERCE: 19980408
Owner (REGISTRANT) U.S. Bureau of the Census = FEDERAL=20 AGENCY UNITED STATES U.S. Department of Commerce Washington D.C.=20 20233
Attorney of Record Mark R. Tallarico
Type of Mark = TRADEMARK
Foreign Trade Statistics? OK. What else?
Here's registration number 2316247. Filing Date December 8, = 1998.

Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Business=20 services, namely, providing information and statistics relevant to = business, economics, exports, imports and international trade; and = business services, namely, providing information and statistics = via a=20 global computer network, revelant to business, economics, exports, = imports=20 and international trade.
FIRST USE: 19980601. FIRST USE IN = COMMERCE:=20 19980601
Owner (REGISTRANT) U.S. Bureau of the Census FEDERAL = AGENCY=20 UNITED STATES U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution = Avenue, NW=20 Washington D.C. 20230
Attorney of Record Mark Tallarico
Type = of Mark=20 SERVICE MARK
So, let's check out 2518821, which was filed November 5, 1999. = Gosh, it=20 looks a bit familiar...

Word Mark UNITED STATES CENSUS 2000
Goods and Services IC = 042. US=20 100 101. G & S: miscellaneous services, namely, promoting = public=20 awareness of the importance of and need for participation in the = U.S.=20 Decennial Census, including the provision of such services by = means of a=20 global computer network, and the conduct of the U.S. Decennial=20 Census.
FIRST USE: 19960000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: = 19960000
Owner=20 (REGISTRANT) U.S. Bureau of the Census FEDERAL AGENCY UNITED = STATES U.S.=20 Department of Commerce Washington D.C. 20233
Attorney of Record = PHILIP=20 J. GREENE
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
I can't not look at the lawyers now, can I?=20
Let's see...Attorney of Record Hector=20 Benitez-Solivan. Not much found about him other than he's a = lawyer in=20 Washington, D.C. , who was named in a May 2009 New York Supreme = Court=20 lawsuit regarding attorneys in violation of Judiciary Law, in = which he was=20 ordered to=20 suspend the practice of law in any form until he registered and = paid=20 registration fees.=20
Then came Philip J. Green, whose "day job" is working for = Office of the=20 Chief Counsel for Technology at the Department of Commerce. Not = much else=20 out there about him, except he has a polished palate. =
Then, back in the 90's it was Mark = R.=20 Tallarico. Now he's the Vice President of the Capital Alumni Network
Well, this has all been interesting but I find myself = wondering, this=20 is all about commerce, right? "First use in Commerce" it says. So = the=20 Census is commerce. Commerce is the exchange of items of value = between=20 companies or persons. A deal of commerce would then be any = exchange of=20 money for a product, service, or information. So, you and I = exchanging=20 Census information with the government is considered commerce. = That begs=20 the question, if this is considered an exchange, where's = the=20 money? I keep being told my information is most valuable. I don't = seem to=20 be getting any money for exchanging my information with the Census = Bureau,=20 what kind of commerce are we talking about here? Not mine, = apparently.=20

In the 2000 Census, $167 million was spent on a professional=20 advertising campaign. Well, that's certainly commerce. In 2010, = according=20 to this=20 article, "This year, spending on advertising and marketing for = the=20 2010 Census will total $340 million, which, in addition to paid=20 advertising, will include public relations, Web site development = and a=20 road tour." This includes the big bucks you know WE the PEOPLE = spent on=20 the Super=20 Bowl commercial. I don't know if it includes the cost of = printing and=20 mailing the "You're going to be getting a Census letter" letter.=20 That was flat out stupid, and WE paid for it. I know costs keep = going up, no=20 doubt. But.... I can flush money down the toilet too, I don't have = to work=20 for the Department of Commerce to do so.=20
I also know they want lots of Americans to do their "duty." = Responses=20 are always a challenge. In this=20 article, it states, "In 1970, the rate of return for paper forms = was 78=20 percent. It dropped to 75 percent in 1980 and 65 percent in 1990, = greatly=20 inflating costs. " Of course in 1970 they started advertising to = boost=20 participation.
So, I'm thinking, if they can fork out millions of dollars to=20 exchange information with me, where's MY cut? I'm the one = giving=20 them the info, or not. So where's my part of the = exchange? If=20 they want to boost participation, why don't they just pay everyone = $25 or=20 so to fill out the form? It'd probably be cheaper.
And what about that "or not" part? Well, just in case you are=20 considering not filling out the form, or giving false information, = consider 13 USC=20 Sec. 221 This will clairfy any fines. I can give you the gist = of=20 it....

Sec. 221. Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false = answers
-STATUTE- (a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, = refuses=20 or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary, or = by any=20 other authorized officer or employee of the Department of = Commerce=20 or bureau or agency thereof acting under the instructions of = the=20 Secretary or authorized officer, to answer, to the best of = his=20 knowledge, any of the questions on any schedule submitted to = him in=20 connection with any census or survey provided for by = subchapters I,=20 II, IV, and V of chapter 5 of this title, applying to = himself or to=20 the family to which he belongs or is related, or to the farm = or=20 farms of which he or his family is the occupant, shall be = fined not=20 more than $100. (b) Whoever, when answering questions = described in=20 subsection (a) of this section, and under the conditions or=20 circumstances described in such subsection, willfully gives = any=20 answer that is false, shall be fined not more than $500. (c) = Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no person = shall=20 be compelled to disclose information relative to his = religious=20 beliefs or to membership in a religious body.

So there you go...the Census is branded, with a logo, just like = any=20 other product used for commerce. They've got the goods, AND the = services,=20 apparently. If you refuse; it will cost you $100. Hmmmmm.....my = form came=20 addressed to "Resident" If I don't fill it out, who are they going = to bill=20 at my address..."Resident"?
If you are interested in Census history, and who wouldn't be, = you can=20 find info here=20 and here.
If you are interested in the government's position on the=20 constitutionality of the Census questions, you can read that here.=20

The Trademark of the Beast

March 16, 2010
Lorie Kramer

Remember... YOU count in the good old U.S. of A.
Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

Additional interesting information from the = U.S. Patent=20 and Trademark Office

Lorie Kramer - Houston, TX
seektress@seektress.info

The Trademark of the Beast

March 16, 2010Lorie Kramer

Remember... YOU count in the good old U.S. of A. Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

Additional interesting information from the = U.S. Patent=20 and Trademark Office

Lorie Kramer - Houston, TXseektress@seektress.info

March 16, 2010
Lorie Kramer

Remember... YOU count in the good old U.S. of A.
Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

Lorie Kramer - Houston, TX
seektress@seektress.info