[Vision2020] Wal-Mart In Court Fight Over 'Wal-ocaust' T-Shirts

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (March 9, 2006) news at KFTV.com:

http://www.wftv.com/money/7813452/detail.html?rss=orlc&psp=money

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Wal-Mart In Court Fight Over 'Wal-ocaust' T-Shirts

POSTED: 11:55 am EST March 8, 2006

ATLANTA -- A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart in federal
district court in Atlanta in a fight over his T-shirts that compare the
retailer's business practices to the Holocaust.

Charles Smith has been marketing shirts that read, "I (heart) Wal-ocaust"
T-shirts. Wal-Mart filed a cease-and-desist order in an attempt to make him
stop printing the shirts.

The company said Smith is engaging in trademark infringement. It has
threatened to sue Smith if he continues to display the logos on his Web site
and to print them on his products.

The 48-year-old Smith is a computer repairman and said he has no deep
connection to the company. But he claims using the logos is a free speech
issue.

Smith said he came up with his anti-Wal-Mart logo after conversations with a
customer and an employee who both had bad experiences with the retailer.

He designed his first logo in July. One shirt -- with "Wal-ocaust" printed
above an eagle and a smiley face sold on Nov. 16 and netted Smith $5.10.

He said if the court sides with him, he will use any profits to pay his
legal fees and for continued production of the products.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said Smith is infringing on the company's
trademark and also "making an offensive association between Wal-Mart and one
of the greatest tragedies of the past century."

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


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Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

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