News > Politics > W The Lawsuit

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TUESDAY APRIL 19 2005 10:04 AM

You've seen them on the back of gigantic, planet-fucking SUVs since the election: a huge block "W" over a simple phrase: "The President", just in case you've successfully forgotten who the President is. If you were wondering who came up with this obnoxious sticker, that's about to be settled in court. A man from Texas is claiming that the RNC stole the idea from him, and he's suing for a cut of the profits.

Jerry Gossett of Wichita Falls, Texas, says he pitched his design for a logo to the RNC's supplier of campaign materials, The Spalding Group of Lexington, Kentucky, in 2001 and to the RNC in 2003, and was turned down.

But in early 2004, he says, a similar logo appeared on a Web site and he traced it back to the RNC. This month, Gossett's Rally Concepts LLC sued in federal court, seeking unspecified damages for copyright infringement and conspiracy.

Tracey Schmitt, the RNC's press secretary, called the lawsuit frivolous.

Officials at Spalding did not respond to calls seeking comment, but a company lawyer, William H. Hollander, said in a letter to Gossett's attorney that his design doesn't meet the legal test of being "substantially similar" to Spalding's.

Gossett shares a trait of Republicans everywhere: rock solid faith in his politics until they screw him:

Gossett says he is a loyal Republican and voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, but has become jaded by his experience.

"The big RNC against little me, there was absolutely no chance to win," he said.

So next time you hear a Republican blabbering about "frivolous lawsuits," keep this one in mind.

Comments

iamjacksusername

Los Angeles, CA

April 2005

APR 19, 2005 10:11 AM

dammit; i'll get that picture insert to work one of these days!!!

[Edited on Apr 19, 2005 10:12AM]

Telltale

USA

May 2004

APR 19, 2005 10:30 AM

monastrell said:
what i want to know is who came up with this bumper sticker :

retaliation to the "W" bumper sticker....

Heehee, brilliant!

stuzzy

Seattle, WA

June 2004

APR 19, 2005 11:14 AM

this isn't even about that particular bumper sticker... it's about a completely different one, which is obvious if you read the article.

there's a picture of the guy holding his bumper sticker design in the article and you can clearly see it's not the black one.

regardless, I love seeing the RNC getting sued, for anything.

[Edited on Apr 19, 2005 2:51PM]

jeffvader

San Diego, CA

November 2004

APR 19, 2005 12:05 PM

the rnc fucking people over, get the fuck outta here

MagnaDolce

Portland, ME

January 2004

APR 19, 2005 05:55 PM

Fuck em all; reps, dems, greens.
You all suck.

It's funny how this thread would lead a young person to believe that only republicans will screw you over.
Now, if Bush had been a democrat he would have handed over the rightful cash deserved to Mr. Gossett because all democrats are good and honest people, ESPECIALLY the democratic POLITICIANS!