Mastodawn

Mx. Luna Corbden 🐸Oct 4, 2023

My ghostwriting client, Natasha Helfer, was involved in a legal dispute with the LDS Church over the use of the term "Mormon" in the "Mormon Mental Health Association." The EFF came to the organization's rescue, and the LDS Church backed down. We're nearing the part of writing her story where I'll get to learn more through interviews. (By "near" I mean the next few months. Writing is a slow process.)

But here's some background:

EFF's statement:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/02/not-mormonr-still-mormon

EFF's letter:

https://www.eff.org/files/2016/02/09/mmha_letter_to_iri.pdf

#exmo #exmormon #MMHA #LDS #Mormon #Sexcommunicated

Not Mormon®, But Still Mormon

Who is a Mormon? This is a fundamental question of self-identity, religion, and even Wikipedia. One would think, however, that that answer would not be found in trademark law. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (IRI), which owns and manages the trademarks of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

Electronic Frontier Foundation

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Mx. Luna Corbden 🐸Oct 4, 2023

Interestingly, the LDS Church labeled their trademarked term "Mormon" as a slur just three years later, ending a nearly decade-long, multimillion dollar advertising campaign "I'm A Mormon." The prophet himself asked members to stop using the term, which to LDS Mormons is essentially a commandment from God.

This might be Natasha's fault? Interestingly her excommunication process listed her use of the term Mormon as one of their "concerns."

Anyway, I'll be digging deeper into that over the coming months. Here are more links:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/mormon-is-out-church-releases-statement-on-how-to-refer-to-the-organization?lang=eng

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_a_Mormon

#exmo #exmormon #LDS #Mormon

“Mormon” Is Out: Church Releases Statement on How to Refer to the Organization - Church News and Events

A Church statement encourages the use of the full name of the Church rather than the term “Mormons” and “LDS Church.” President Russell M. Nelson said, “The Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church.”

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Mx. Luna Corbden 🐸Oct 4, 2023

It strikes me as interesting that this billion dollar corporation thought they could control their membership's use of a word, and when they couldn't, they revoked the word.

Is there any other case where a corporation asked its customers and employees o not use one of their primary trademarks to refer to themselves?

#exmo #exmormon #LDS #Mormon

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NegativeNull

@corbden