A literal dick move: romance novelist trademarks "cocky" in book titles

[muriel_volestrangler]

Romantic novelist's trademarking of word 'cocky' sparks outcry

Faleena Hopkins is the self-published author of a series of books about the “Cocker Brothers” (“Six bad boy brothers you’ll want to marry or hide under you [sic] bed”), each of which features the word “cocky” in the title: Cocky Romantic, Cocky Biker, Cocky Cowboy. On Saturday, author Bianca Sommerland posted a YouTube video sharing allegations that Hopkins had written to authors whose books also had titles including the word “cocky”, informing them that she had been granted the official registered trademark of the adjective in relation to romance books, and asking them to rename their novels or face legal action.

Records at the US patent and trademark office show that the registered trademark for use of the word “cocky” in relation to romance ebooks was issued in April 2018.
...
Hopkins tweeted that the word was “a brand”, and that the writers she was contacting could “keep their books, rankings, reviews and their money by retitling which takes one day”. On Facebook, she said she was a victim of “cyber-bullying”, writing that she “applied for the trademark to protect the future of my series because it helps people. It’s filled with love, hope, and respect to all human beings.”
...
Others are not so sure. Chocolat author Joanne Harris punned that “such behaviour is considered a dick move” on her blog, adding more seriously that “if it were really possible to legally forbid authors from using a certain common word in their book titles, then the whole publishing industry would be down the drain in a matter of days”.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/may/08/romantic-novelist-trademarking-of-word-cocky-fameela-hopkins

I think Hopkins claiming to be the victim of cyber-bullying when she wrote to authors threatening legal action really takes the biscuit. The trademark office also seems to be just as much of a dick as Hopkins for granting this in the first place.

[CherokeeDem]

1. I'm an admin for a huge writing group on Facebook.

This news did not go over well there at all. Nothing wrong with an author wanting to protect their work but to trademark a common word as it is associated with a writing genre is as Chocolat author Joanne Harris punned that “such behaviour is considered a dick move”

The Romance Writers Association of America has already begun to look into this and an article I read stated her claim will likely be shot down by the first court case if it even gets that far.

Just another snotty little author with an over sense of their creations. Who uses Cocky as a book title anyway????

[sdfernando]

2. Obvious remedy

Someone needs to trademark in book titles "Romantic", "Biker", "Cowboy" etc...then demand she re-title her novels.....it only takes 1 day!

[Aristus]

3. HA! YES!

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Interesting to note that titles can't be *copyrighted* -- odd that this was allowed. nt

[jmowreader]

5. This will be an easy trademark to kill

Here's the trademark:

http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:ikxlny.4.6

According to the trademark page, her first use was 6/16/2016. If anyone can prove they used the word in the title of a romance novel before that date, the trademark can be revoked.