Sounds Like Something From The Onion

Above, Haruo Nakajima and yours truly at the 2013 Mad Monster Party.

The Onion is a satirical website of fake, but humorous news. What was posted today on Facebook sounds like something The Onion would post, but it is real.

Eben McGarr, the organizer of the Mad Monster Party conventions, posted a legal action document filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that was apparently put forth by Monster Energy Company (the maker of Monster energy drinks). They contend that Mad Monster Party is in some sort of infringement of their alleged trademark of the word "monster". I kid you not!

Here it is:

Supposedly, they contend that Mad Monster Party's use of the word "monster" is a trademark infringement. Really? If that's the case, then anyone (such as the TV show, Monster Madhouse) using the word "monster" would also be infringing on their trademark. [Since we don't have the full document, it looks like that McGarr may have applied to trademark the "Mad Monster Party" convention name (which is a reasonable thing to do), but Monster Energy Company is opposing it.]

[I attended the 2013 Mad Monster Party convention as the "wrangler" for Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima.]

This reminds me of what the state of Kentucky did years ago. They obtained a trademark for the word "Kentucky" and that anyone using that word is infringing. That's why Kentucky Fried Chicken changed their name to KFC.

This is nuts! Will Mad Monster Party have to change their name to MMP if Monster Energy Company prevails?