Entrepreneurs Edge Tv, hosted by Janice McLean (DeLoatch), sadly now, (created, produced and owned by JMD Entertainment Group) has a default judgment that prevents the group after 10+ years of constant promotion from using the word “Entrepreneur” and owes Entrepreneur Magazine $18,000 because of its use of the word.
For many of you who have gotten used to hearing the sound and seeing the double (EE’s) of (Entrepreneurs Edge Tv) over a period of 10+ years, you will not be able to see the logo displayed with the word “Entrepreneur” on the East Coast based television program or its website.
Entrepreneur Magazine has incorporated the particular strategy of paying high priced lawyers to then use advertiser and sponsor dollars to go after anyone of substance using the word “Entrepreneur” and file suit against them in court after offering what seems like some kind of settlement. (Check USPTO, United States Patent and Trademark Office “Entrepreneur Magazine” Case History)
Only, with the knowledge that the company will not really give the entrepreneur or company any money, but the chance to give up their domain names and life’s work for free while they agree to remove the default judgement. Most of the time the judgement comes into place because the entrepreneur and small company cannot afford the cost of litigation or in some cases cannot find proper representation or afford the ones willing to help defend their businesses. Entrepreneur Magazine then comes in and swoops up the domain names and benefit from the original entrepreneur and small business owners work. All in the name of protecting their mark. Wonder if their advertisers and sponsors know about these goings on???
Trademark Bullies is a term that seems to be thrown around more and more. With the onslaught of various companies and entertainers (i.e. Robin Thicke, T.I, Will. I. AM, Beyonce and Jay-Z) and others thinking that money, high priced lawyers and knowing how to navigate the old trademark laws on the books equals success. Speaking from an entrepreneurial perspective. It shouldn’t.
So now, JMD Entertainment Group has to use its entrepreneurial skills to battle a corporation, (Entrepreneur Magazine) who’s mission statement says that they help build entrepreneurs and foster entrepreneurship is doing exactly the opposite.
Entrepreneur Magazine has filed suit against many companies over the last few years in defending their name. (Entrepreneur).
“Entrepreneur”, an everyday word from the dictionary is a general use word and their trademark should have never been granted.
Speaking of Trademark Infringement see who else is stealing from “Entrepreneurs Edge Tv”.
http://www.harfordbusiness.org/
http://www.entrepreneursedge-llc.com/
Solutions: We propose writing and visiting congress (We know what you are thinking here, but any-who), the Small Business Committee on Entrepreneurship and the advertisers and sponsors of Entrepreneur Magazine to let them know just what this company is doing to entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, business and the economy in some ways.
Entrepreneur Magazine should also be required to give back all the domain names they have stolen (oops, did we say that) and compensate the companies who have been forced to spend their money, time, energy, give up businesses and names because of a wild goose chase and lawyers who know how to bully the entrepreneur and work the legal system. And Legislation should be passed that forbids companies to monopolize a general use word.
Would you like to support our stance and help fund this cause. Email to: jmdentertainmentgroup@yahoo.com, write – JMD Entertainment Group, Box 1194, Abingdon, MD 21009 or call 443-299-7360 and speak with Jermaine Owens.
