While we were in Chicago this summer, we saw an article in the paper about a Chicago company copyrighting the name Aloha Poke. They actually forced other shops in Hawaii and Alaska (owned by Hawaiians) to stop using the name because they had copyrighted it for their use only.
So what is poke?
I've never been a huge fan of it, but my children who were raised in the Midwest (and the rest of the family) LOVE it!
Well....
Now here comes this Chicago company saying shops in Hawaii or anywhere else cannot use the words Aloha Poke.
I didn't know how angry people in Hawaii might be but I found out when I went to the bank and saw our favorite teller. She asked where we'd been and I told her we were in Chicago visiting our daughter. She then asked if we'd heard about the Aloha Poke craziness.
Sigh...
As my son-in-law has told me. It feels rotten, but it is the law. The Chicago company did have the right to copyright the name.
I know. But it's not right. It really isn't.
So what is poke?
This is from Wikipedia:
Poke (Hawaiian for "to slice" or "cut crosswise into pieces"; sometimes stylized Poké to aid pronunciation) is diced raw fish served as either an appetizer or as a main course and is one of the main dishes of Native Hawaiian cuisine. Traditional forms are aku (an oily tuna) and he'e (octopus). He'e (octopus) poke is usually called by its Japanese name "Tako" Poke, except in places like the island of Ni'ihau where the Hawaiian language is spoken. Increasingly popular ahi poke is generally made with yellow fin tuna. Adaptations may feature raw salmon or various shellfish as a main ingredient served raw with the common "pok(e" seasonings.Poke was started in Hawaii by Hawaiians and after becoming very popular in the last few years has been adapted into lots of different variations of the same theme.
I've never been a huge fan of it, but my children who were raised in the Midwest (and the rest of the family) LOVE it!
Now here comes this Chicago company saying shops in Hawaii or anywhere else cannot use the words Aloha Poke.
I didn't know how angry people in Hawaii might be but I found out when I went to the bank and saw our favorite teller. She asked where we'd been and I told her we were in Chicago visiting our daughter. She then asked if we'd heard about the Aloha Poke craziness.
Sigh...
As my son-in-law has told me. It feels rotten, but it is the law. The Chicago company did have the right to copyright the name.
I know. But it's not right. It really isn't.
Copyrighting a name that is already in use seems very wrong. Now I am reminded of Chick-fil-A suing a VT artist for copyright infringement because his tee shirts that said Eat More Kale were too much like their Eat More Beef slogan.
ReplyDeleteThere is a new poke place here in my town but raw fish and seafood has no appeal to me. I guess we all draw the line somewhere.
I agree with Olga. If it's a common word, it should not be subject to copyright.
ReplyDeleteinteresting dilemma...
ReplyDeleteThat seems very wrong to me. I think someone should take it to court and see if the law agrees when presented with long-time use by others.
ReplyDeleteIt is always all about the money. Sad.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like they should be allowed to use the word 'poke'.
ReplyDeleteHow is it possible that no one in Hawaii ever trademarked that name earlier? Unbelievable. I'm very sorry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about this! You continue to teach
ReplyDeleteI think copyright laws are too general. We should loosen up a bit.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Hawaii can't trademark Aloha.
ReplyDeleteI really think people in Hawaii never thought they needed to copyright the word Aloha. The word was always freely given.
DeleteCraziness, imo. Do they think they can own our speech and writing, too?
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it but capitalism IS all about money. It is not a fair sort of government.
ReplyDeleteWe have a local place, I think that has something like that. I think it's called Pokenori.
ReplyDeleteNo, it isn't.
ReplyDelete