UPDATE- TRADEMARK!!!

Here's an update on the trademark filing. 

Stay tuned for Season 2...coming JUNE 26TH!

Transcript

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Hello everyone, it is me Mackenzie, and I just wanted to give you guys just a quick update about where things stand with the trademark filing and kind of where things are going in the future. Fortunately, I am still gonna be making this podcast. Season two comes out on June 26th, so make sure that you have saved the podcast to your liked or favored podcasts so that you do not miss a single update when it happens. Um, and we've got some really big names coming up on season two. I'm actually about to record an interview right now, but I've got quite a few finished, working on editing them, and then they'll be rolling out weekly or bi-weekly, just kind of depending on everyone's schedules. A lot of these people are extremely busy and on tour, so I kind of have to do it based on their schedule. But that's the good news. The good news is that I am still gonna be doing this podcast. I'm moving forward with my book. I've got all sorts of other awesome projects that I am working on. But I wanted to touch on the trademark filing right now. So back in late February, early March, I got an email from the USPTO, which is essentially the United States uh patent and trademark office. And it's a government-run office. And they essentially said, Hey, we need you to tell us, you know, why rumors, why ATL? And they said, because the name rumors is already taken by Fleetwood Mac. Um, it's apparently the name that they use for all of their merchandising and um record releases and things like that. It's kind of like part of a LLC, if I'm not mistaken. And then ATL obviously stands for Atlanta, and there are a lot of ATL this, ATL that. So I had to write a long response to their office action um requesting me to clear all of it up. Wrote the response, I felt like it was a pretty good one, um, but totally knew that they would more than likely come back and say, okay, yeah, you are nobody compared to Fleetwood Mac. Um, so here's essentially what you need to know. Today I got a final office action from the USPTO regarding the rumors ATL trademark filing. And honestly, it's complicated emotionally, even when you expect it. One thing I've learned through this entire process is that legal systems and emotional truth are not always the same thing. The USPTO isn't deciding who founded something, who sacrificed for it, or what something meant to people. They're applying trademark law very mechanically. And whether I continue fighting it or not, I know what I built. The people who were there know what I built. The audiences know what I built. And a federal registration doesn't create those memories retroactively, it only determines registration rights under a very specific legal framework. So as of right now, there is no way that me, myself, or the band can apply for a trademark for the name. And I also want to clear another thing up. I did not file this trademark as something like, uh, well, I left the band and now they're touring and I'm upset. I could give a single flying rat's ass. That is not what this is about. Back in June, when a intellectual property claim was filed against me because of the ownership that I had over the domain name, um, that really pissed me off, if we're being honest. And I thought, you know, that's just not okay that they can go and lie to the World Intellectual Property Organization and claim that not only was I continuing to operate the domain in bad faith, but that I opened it in 2016 in bad faith, which is simply not true. And also to say that I was, quote, just the singer. And that is also incredibly untrue. Anybody who knows anything about that band and my time in it knows that I was just not just a singer, okay. Um, so I decided to move forward with trying to trademark, and I knew that it would be difficult. Um, and that's okay. I look at it like it's totally fine. I did what I felt like I needed to do, and um what's done is done, and I wish them luck, and they're still touring and playing shows, and good for them. That's awesome. I've got my own thing going on here in Michigan. I'm loving my life. I've got two amazing kids, this podcast, my uh wildflower garden that I now have up and running. So I'm doing just fine. Um, but I want everyone, I guess, to know that when you feel like you're backed into a corner, sometimes it's okay to fight back. And sometimes it's okay to fight back strategically. And that's exactly what I did. I felt like I was being harassed the entire time I was pregnant, despite quitting the band. And at the end of the day, it's a band. People quit bands all the time, people quit jobs all the time. Things should not fall apart, things should not fall on someone in that form of responsibility, the way that it fell on me. Um, if it was really that big of a deal, it could have been talked about. Um, and they treated it like I was betraying them, but then went and moved on, like it was nothing. So you can't have it both ways. I either betrayed you or everything's cool and you're moving on with your life. Pick a lane. Um, either way, I really don't care. But I wanted to update everybody about kind of what was going on with that, and also to let you know that the trademark going that route is extremely difficult. Um, I wish anyone who is trying to trademark something the best of luck because it is not easy, it is expensive, and I don't regret trying one bit. Um, like I said, I know what I built, I know that that band would have never existed without me. Um, and that's the truth. You can open discovery on that all you want, but that is the truth, and I'm sticking to it. I hope that you guys are awesome. I know I'm doing awesome, and I will see you on June 26th for my first interview for season two. And I'm just so excited, you guys. There's so many great voices that you're gonna hear from and just amazing people, even if you don't know who they are. I encourage you to listen to every episode because you might get some insight on, you know, how to live life and how to move forward in times that are really difficult. Um, as most of you know, musicians and creatives are deeply feeling people, and there's a lot of nuance and a lot of the same kind of theme that runs through a lot of these interviews is what now? And about not giving up and believing in yourself and believing in the goodness of others and the humanity of others instead of truly giving up and feeling like the world is against you. So if that sounds like something that's for you, even if you don't know who some of these musicians or venue owners or journalists are, I encourage you to listen to the episodes because they might make you feel good. Who knows? We'll see. I hope so. And season three, I'm like kind of brainstorming on it right now. And it's also gonna be part story, part interview, but it's gonna be interviews with people who you would not expect. So stay tuned for that too. Um, I wanna say a deep thank you to every single person who has supported this podcast, who has reached out to me, rated, reviewed, sent it to your friends and loved ones. You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you so, so much from the bottom of my heart, and I hope that all of you have a wonderful summer, and I will see you on the 26th on all streaming platforms. And if you haven't already, go watch the bonus episode that recaps the entire season on YouTube. You can find it. Starting Rumors Podcast is the YouTube page, so go find it, check it out, enjoy. I actually put my makeup on for the first time in a really long time. So um, yeah, you guys can go laugh at that. So thank you so much. I will see you again so soon. And take care of each other, take care of yourselves, and feel free to reach out to me at any time. I'm always here for you. Thank you so much.