Request for help: Send TBS a message on charade

Sherlock

Muse
Sherlock
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Salem, Oregon
I would appreciate some help from many of you in sending a sentence or two (or more) to a TBS (Turner Broadcasting System) attorney handling a potential misuse of a TBS trademark ("Court TV"). It relates to a use of the Court TV trademark by psychic actress Noreen Renier.

As shown on a pre-release photo of her new August 2011 book titled 'A Practical Psychic', the book's cover includes in bold type "The most credible psychic out there - Court TV."

First, Court TV is a trademark of Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and no Court TV executive apparently has ever publicly stated such a sentence and sanctioned such an endorsement. I hope TBS will be encouraged by many of YOU to have this quote eliminated before the book is packaged and distributed in August. The attorney at the TBS legal group handling potentially improper trademark and unauthorized promotional use of its Court TV name is claire.kimball@turner.com

A word or two from JREF forum members and colleagues may assist in examining this matter.

Noreen Renier has misled the public with this deceptive and self-edited quote for years. The actual remark came from a part-time web cast moderator, not any Court TV executive or legal affairs and trademark officer. And the young internet writer who originated the significantly edited quote admitted to confusion about Renier's past and then actually typed initially how "she seemed the most credible psychic out there."

Shortly afterward Noreen Renier chopped off his first words and then elevated the temporary web site moderator (and likely non-Court TV employee) to what appears to be a statement coming directly from Court TV, which became truTV in 2008.

And now Renier's manipulative deception has become the first statement you read on the cover of her new book. But apparently her new publisher hasn't bothered to check the validity of her quotes nor the use of the trademark Court TV. Given that a federal judge on March 21, 2011 cited Noreen Renier for having misled his court and found her not credible as a witness; does she deserve such a book cover?

Additionally tonight I've grown exceedingly tired of a Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noreen_Renier#cite_note-2 which for all intents had become a promotional page for Noreen Renier since early 2010 and an elaborate effort by Renier in court to connect critical postings made by a variety of critics (and perhaps her own colleagues) to me. I will make edits based on facts not charades and encourage others to edit out public distortions.

Since late March 2011 when a Virginia federal court judge removed restraints against my correcting or making public statements about Noreen Renier, I've re-posted extensive materials at http://www.gpinquirygroup.com/gpinquirygroup/IndepthRenier.html
 
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Just for the record Noreen Renier's new publisher is Adams Media Corporation and the full title of her new book is The Practical Psychic: A No-Nonsense Guide to Developing Your Natural Abilities by Noreen Renier. Given the use of the deceptive phrase on its cover "The most credible psychic out there - Court TV" I would encourage potential buyers to by-pass the book. Why read a book when the first sentence on its cover is an exaggerated [and apparently unauthorized] charade?
 
She is setting the bar pretty low though, don't you think?

Most Credible Psychic is a bit like being "World's tallest Dwarf".
 
TBS responds on psychic reference to "credible" quote

I would appreciate continued efforts by those who wish to make a comment about this matter. I was informed today that Esther Ono, Corporate Legal Manager, Trademarks, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., who handles the COURT TV/ TRUTV portfolio, is now looking into this matter.

Her e-mail is esther.ono@turner.com

Several of us will be following up as to whether the book's cover statement is altered as a reflection of any actions by the Turner Broadcasting System. Based on what is now a publicly logged concern I would assume TBS has potential liabilities should a member of the public make a decision to purchase materials or services by Ms. Renier prompted by apparently the inaccurate claim that TBS under its Court TV trademark found Ms. Renier "the most credible psychic out there."

Numerous postings showing the book cover and the Court TV reference remain as of today unchanged on major book sellers web pages including Amazon, Books A Million, Powells, Borders, etc.

FYI; the e-mail address in the above had a typo (as is mentioned below) - I have since corrected it.
Posted By: Locknar
 
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It'll be interesting to see the result, and how TBS disseminates the information after all is said and done. Especially if nothing is done.

IANAL; I know very little about issues regarding trademarks.

I wonder if TBS has a legal course of action in this case. (I have no idea)
Even if they do, I wonder whether it will be worth their while to pursue it.

Years ago, Emory University forced many local businesses to remove the word Emory from their names. From dry cleaners to animal hospitals, many had been operating for 1-2 decades as Emory Dry cleaner, etc.

I have no idea why they decided to pursue the matter after 10-20+ years--but when they did, either their case was solid and/or the businesses lacked the resources to challenge them. I imagine all did comply--and in many instances, at great expense. (Signs, sundries, stationary, etc.)
 
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Emet said:
It'll be interesting to see the result, and how TBS disseminates the information after all is said and done. Especially if nothing is done.

IANAL; I know very little about issues regarding trademarks.

I wonder if TBS has a legal course of action in this case. (I have no idea)
Even if they do, I wonder whether it will be worth their while to pursue it.

Years ago, Emory University forced many local businesses to remove the word Emory from their names. From dry cleaners to animal hospitals, many had been operating for 1-2 decades as Emory Dry cleaner, etc.

I have no idea why they decided to pursue the matter after 10-20+ years--but when they did, either their case was solid and/or the businesses lacked the resources to challenge them. I imagine all did comply--and in many instances, at great expense. (Signs, sundries, stationary, etc.)
Click to expand...

Also NAL, but I believe Emory did it to protect their brand. Its the same reason McDonald's sues every little mom-n-pop place that even vaguely suggests a Mcdonalds-esque-ness. The general rule is protect it or lose it forever. So, you end up having the play the bad guy to protect your brand.

I imagine this same legal impetus will push TBS hand into contacting Reneir's publisher. Unless, of course, TBS also owns the publisher or TBS did provided the quote.
 
madurobob said:
Also NAL, but I believe Emory did it to protect their brand. Its the same reason McDonald's sues every little mom-n-pop place that even vaguely suggests a Mcdonalds-esque-ness. The general rule is protect it or lose it forever. So, you end up having the play the bad guy to protect your brand.
Click to expand...

I read an article at the time in the AJC (I think) when Emory did state they were protecting their brand, IIRC. Several business owners were interviewed, and expressed surprise that Emory had allowed the businesses to operate for so long without taking action. And I knew one of the business owners personally. He understood Emory's position, but since he had been open for so long, the expenses involved were much greater than if he had been notified earlier.
 
I sent an email, but the email address for Ms. Ono came back as undeliverable.
 
AmandaM said:
I sent an email, but the email address for Ms. Ono came back as undeliverable.
Click to expand...

Did you click on the e-mail link provided up-thread?

Her name is Esther Ono. I doubt her e-mail is ester.ono. I would imagine it's esther.ono.
 
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Yeah, I noticed that after I posted. Sorry. I resent it.

I have not heard back, but if I do I will post what they say.
 
More than two weeks after TBS was notified of this potential misuse of the Court TV trademark additional web sites are pre-selling Renier's book and displaying the cover ”endorsement" tagged to Court TV. And sites like Amazon, Borders, and Books-A-Million who already had posted the artwork with the quote continue to promote pre-sales of the book showing the unaltered Court TV "endorsement".

One must wonder if TBS notified the current publisher at all, and if so, whether the publisher is required to correct both its own web site and notify other sales companies selling the book to re-post an altered cover without the "endorsement" from TBS/Court TV. A potential liability to TBS seems real for allowing what could be an accepted misrepresentation connected to TBS/Court TV, given that TBS has acknowledged being notified of this potential trademark and accreditation infringement.

It would seem just a good business decision to protect its own trademark to correct this matter. Particularly if the public notes a seemingly deceptive sales/marketing charade launched on the general public.
 
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There's an side-note I've thought about the last hour. One has to wonder how other paranormal authors --- including those who also appeared on Court TV and the Story House Production series 'Psychic Detectives' shown on the TBS Court TV / truTV channel --- with being considered less credible authors. How do they feel about walking into a Borders or Barnes & Nobles and viewing two dozen paranormal books showcased on the shelf --- including their own --- and one is highlighted by "The most credible psychic out there. -Court TV" when their book is not?
 
Sherlock said:
There's an side-note I've thought about the last hour. One has to wonder how other paranormal authors --- including those who also appeared on Court TV and the Story House Production series 'Psychic Detectives' shown on the TBS Court TV / truTV channel --- with being considered less credible authors. How do they feel about walking into a Borders or Barnes & Nobles and viewing two dozen paranormal books showcased on the shelf --- including their own --- and one is highlighted by "The most credible psychic out there. -Court TV" when their book is not?
Click to expand...

Maybe you could send off a few emails to these people... Set a fraud to catch a fraud...
 
"The most credible psychic out there. -Court TV"

Just a few weeks since Brainache posted his comments that immediately precede this one, his idea of sending off e-mails to Renier's competitive colleagues hasn't been necessary. I've been told a well recognized paranormal author has in fact lodged a preliminary concern (though not a lawsuit) through an attorney to TBS about Renier's claim of being "the most credible psychic out there."

This should prove interesting. Two psychics claiming top credibility --- and TBS still apparently examining the posting that Renier showcases on the cover of her new book which incorrectly references the originator of “the most credible psychic out there” directly to Court TV, a trademark of Turner Broadcasting System (TBS).

And no, I haven’t been told the psychic who has lodged the “strong concern” --- just that it has been lodged along with approximately 40 other notices which include JREF forum participants.

Also today's just delivered July/August 2011 issue of the Skeptical Inquirer has an article titled "Psychic Detective Noreen Renier Lambasted in Judge's Ruling' written by Dr. Gary Posner, M.D. Worth a look if you are one of SI’s 50,000 readers.
 
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Actually it may be a good time to send Esther Ono, Corporate Legal Manager, Trademarks, Turner Broadcasting System, a brief e-mail if you believe YOU are a more deserving claimant for the "most credible psychic out there" 'endorsement' from Court TV. Why let this highly coveted award be placed on just one of two psychics? Her e-mail is: Esther.Ono@turner.com Given that it's still posted all over the internet in connection with book sales and Renier's book --- and TBS hasn't bothered to respond to anyone's concerns on the matter that I've heard --- why let the psychics have all the attention?
 
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