News on Osho Trademarks
After Osho leaves his body in 1990, efforts began to monopolize and own Osho’s work, Osho meditations and “Osho”.
For approximately ten years, starting in 1992, Osho International Foundation (OIF), Zurich filed applications with the United States Trademark office to register marks for the word “Osho”, Osho’s meditations, and other things related to Osho such as one version of His signature. In doing this, OIF, Zurich claimed to own and control “Osho”, Osho’s meditations, and all of Osho’s work.
January 19, 1990 – Osho leaves his body
April 25, 1990 – Rajneesh Foundation in Poona changes its name to Osho International Foundation, registered in Bombay. Later Rajneesh Foundation Europe also changed its name to Osho International Foundation, OIF. So there became two different Foundations- one in India and the other in Zurich with the same name.
July 1, 1992 – OIF files trademark application in USA:
“Osho” under the category of Books and printed materials for education purpose in the field of religion and philosophy
1997:
March 17 – OIF files two more trademark applications in USA:
“Osho” under the category of pre-recorded audio and video tapes in the field of education, religion, philosophy and science
“Osho” under the category of providing religion, philosophy and science information via a global computer network
December 29 – OIF files one more trademark application in USA:
“Osho” under the category of books and printed materials for education purpose in the field of religion and philosophy
Between 1999- 2001:
OIF files seven more trademark applications for various meditations:
Osho Active Meditations
Osho Nadabrahma Meditation
Osho Kundalini Meditation
Osho Natraj Meditation
Osho Gourishankar Meditation
Osho Zen Tarot
Osho Transformation Tarot
Osho Meditation Resort
Osho Multiversity
Osho Times
March, 2000:
Based upon its claim to trademarks and copyright ownership, OIF, Zurich launched a legal action against Osho Dhyan Mandir, New Delhi, in an effort to prevent them from using the word, “Osho” in the domain name www.oshoworld.com. The Arbitrator M. Kellery Tillery Esquire gave the verdict on July 28, 2000 and decided in favor of Osho Dhyan Mandir.
http://www.oshofriendsinternational.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=116
http://www.arbitration-forum.com/domains/decisions/94990.htm
November, 2000 – Osho Friends International (OFI) files a petition to cancel the trademarks.
January 2, 2001 – OIF files a motion to dismiss the notice of opposition filed by Osho Friends International (OFI)
The grounds of opposing the trademark applications were :
OIF attained trademarks by misrepresenting the facts before USPTO.
Osho being a generic word cannot be trademarked.
Meditation is in use since centuries so cannot be trademarked.
January 13, 2009:
The verdict given by United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on 13 January 2009, said that Osho and His works cannot be trademarked.
http://www.oshofriendsinternational.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=125