Yes, that's right- a tiny group of buttwipes are attempting to claim ownership of another bit of the English language.
This time it's the ignorant, greedy f*cks known as the "Dervaes family" from Pasadena. They like to do stuff with "urban homesteading", which I fully support. What I DON'T support is them trying to trademark the phrases "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading".
That reeks of greediness and a scum-sucking "ownership mentality", where commonplace terms are now claimed to be "owned" by someone. Yeah, supposedly they claim that the terms "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading" belong to them and cannot be used without their permission.
The Dervaeses aren't going after people who have ripped off their writings (which I would be fine with) but they're sending cease-and-desist letters to anyone using the terms "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading." For example, they sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Santa Monica Public Library because the library dared to host a free event on urban homesteading.
The C&D letter tells people to stop using the terms "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading":
"If your use of one of these phrases is not to specifically identify products or services from the Dervaes Institute, then it would be proper to use generic terms to replace the registered trademark you are using," the letter states. "For example, when discussing general homesteading or other people's projects, they should be referred to using terms such as 'modern homesteading,' 'urban sustainability projects,' or similar descriptions."[/p]Well, f*ck you, Jules and Justin Dervaeses, and that goes for the rest of the Dervaeses family too. You can't lay claim to part of the English language and then assert ownership of it. It doesn't work that way, you sanctimonious pricks. I and everyone else can and will use your Holy Terms of "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading" whenever and wherever we want to.
Personally, I like to use the words "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading". I think most of the people who run an "urban homestead" and do "urban homesteading" are good people. But SOME people who use the terms "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading" are clearly jerkoffs who think they can do whatever they want.
urban homestead, urban homesteading
urban homestead, urban homesteading
urban homestead, urban homesteading
urban homestead, urban homesteading
urban homestead, urban homesteading
To the Dervaeses family: Please feel free to send me one of your asinine cease-and-desist letters so I can ignore it.
This is getting insane.
I agree with you TB. Heard some things about stuff like this happening, but this is getting more and more rediculous