[ Thanks to George
Mitchell for this link. ]
“Pannell-Christ Incorporated, a small Indiana service business,
is suing Priceline.com in federal district court over the use of
the phrases “Name Your Price” and “Name Your Own Price.””
“David Christ, the president of Pannell-Christ, a company that
provides diagnostic, consulting and training services to businesses
wishing to sell at the high-end of their markets, told Newsbytes
that five years ago, after much thought and before the advent of
Priceline.com, his company used the trademark, “Name Your Price!”
Pannell-Christ’s attorney, Bruce Longbottom, says that the U.S.
Trademark Office granted federal registration of the mark on
February 1, 2000.”
“Longbottom told Newsbytes that a search of the records at
the United States Trademark Office disclosed that Priceline.com had
tried four times to register the phrases, “Name Your Price” and
“Name Your Own Price,” and that registration was rejected each
time. But, Christ says, they not only have used them illegally,
they have also licensed the use of these phrases to other
businesses to use that have partnered with Priceline.com and follow
the Priceline.com business model.”