News / People
Change Rocks Inventor Finds Barrack Obama Using His Slogan
Doyno started his business three years ago marketing his patent-pending Change Rocks that featured rings with interchangeable stones. Since then he’s produced pendants and t-shirts as well.
The 19 year old SUNY-Buffalo student after he googled his company’s name. The search results pulled up results for a concert and fundraiser for Obama under the name of Change Rocks in December 7 in Chicago.
Doyno called his lawyers who sent a letter to Obama’s national campaign December 18 pointing out that Change Rocks is in fact a registred US trademark, No. 3,266,236. The letter made it clear that if Obama sold any products with the slogan, it would be copyright infringement.
Doyno’s lawyers suggested that it might be in Obama’s interest to work out a deal with Doyno, considering that his rival, US Senator Hillary Clinton is a mere 14 miles north of Scarsdale. The letter reads, “Westchester County, as you are obviously aware, is heavily Democratic and we have no doubt that Mr. Obama - despite Ms. Clinton's residence here - enjoys considerable support in the area. Mr. Doyno is far more interested in exploring possible synergies between Mr. Obama's use of Change Rocks as a slogan or theme and the Change Rocks mark and products than he is in preventing Mr. Obama from using the mark in connection with the campaign”
Attached were documents showing Doyno’s achievements and a personal congratulatory letter for Doyno for winning the National Federation of Independent Business 2007 Young Entrepreneur Award from Hillary Clinton.
Doyno’s lawers have not yet received any response from the Obama campaign, however Jen Psaki, Obama spokesewoman, has contacted the Journal news, via e-mail, and stated that no Change Rocks merchandise has been sold. She wrote, “We wish [Doyno] the best of luck with his business and we invite him to join our growing grassroots team in New York.”
