Japanese Copyright Laws ftw!

[Groovebox]

http://www.reason.com/blog/, check out the first post:

Japanese Meat Magnate Trademarks "High School Girl"

Katherine Mangu-Ward | February 7, 2008, 1:15pm

Just when you thought Japan couldn't get any weirder:

Meat product manufacturer Ito Ham has taken the Japanese schoolgirl obsession to the next level by applying for the trademark rights to the word “High School Girl” (????/Joshi-Kosei).

A pair of trademark applications (via the INPIT database) indicate that Ito Ham is planning a line of High School Girl® meat products, including meat pies, gyoza dumplings, pizza, curry and more. Either that, or someone in the office is just having fun.

The phrase "high school girl" is already a commonly used phrase in Japan (to say the least), so it's not clear that the trademark will be granted. Still, you have to the admire the appropriately-named meat magnate Mr. Ito Ham for trying.

To review: Japanese schoolgirls. Trademark law. Discuss.

Via the always-reliable source Pink Tentacle http://www.pinktentacle.com

[Cheerios]

dental plan

[Myst]

commercializing something socially successful. what's new?

[Charismatic]

Wow. I wonder if they'll get the trademark.
Seriously doubt it.

[Olo401]

High School Girl meat pies..

wrong on so many levels...

[Ganzar]

High School Girl meat pies..

wrong on so many levels...

But oh so right

[Mala]

High School Girl meat pies..

wrong on so many levels...

But oh so right

and delicious

[Charla]

In before gb2Gurochan.

[Septimus]

So Japan is going to transition from tentacles to tube steaks?