Gatehouse Media - a small newspaper chain, which was actually some pretty innovative things done online in the past - become really pretty crazy when it comes to intellectual property in recent times. First, the New York Times sued for linking to that, then it is threatening a forum site for the link to it, with headlines and LEDES (what most people consider fair use). Now it 's go further. Keyop points us to the news that the lawyers for a Gatehouse paper, the Utica Observer shipping threatened a local satirical blogger with claims trademark infringement on the great sin of mentioning the name of the Utica Observer shipping.

We would like to point out that the name, "The Observer Dispatch," that the property is GateHouse Media, protected by trademark rights and rights of the past. The use of such names is a violation of GateHouse 's rights under federal, state and common law. Our proprietary rights to names include the right to restrict the use of the name. It is important that we protect our right to exercise our name. He serves as an important and unique presentation of the origin of our products and the goodwill value of GateHouse Media.

The blogger, Ray Jadwick, definitely makes fun of the Utica Observer Dispatch on its site, but it certainly doesn 't seem to be trademark infringement. Making fun of the paper isn 't confuse probably an idiot in a hurry.

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