Adventist Church Wins Trademark Case
"None may trade in religious goods and services without the mark of approval from the world's great men." (paraphrase of Rev. 13:17)
On August 20 the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected a challenge to the church's trademark registration of its name Seventh-day Adventist.The court dismissed an appeal, filed by Virginia L. Stocker, from an earlier decision of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's trademark trial and appeal board that denied petitions to cancel the church's registration.
"We are very pleased that the trademark trial and appeal board confirmed the validity of the church's registration," says Walter E. Carson, an associate general counsel of the General Conference. "The court's ruling allows the church exclusive use of the name 'Adventist' and 'Seventh-day Adventist' and protects the name from misuse by individuals and unaffiliated groups," Carson says.
The GC trademark policy authorizes use of "Seventh-day Adventist" by church entities, such as conferences and institutions listed in the current Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, and by local churches and companies of believers that are recognized by a local conference of mission.
"There will be more and still more external parade by worldly powers. Under different symbols, God presented to John the wicked character and seductive influence of those who have been distinguished for their persecution of His people. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation speaks of mystic Babylon, fallen from her high estate to become a persecuting power. Those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus are the object of the wrath of this power."
[Rev. 18:1-8 quoted] (MS 135, 1902).
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