Complete silliness? Re: WSOP

[corpfan1]

With the World Series of Poker a little less than two months away, Harrah's has recently introduced new guidelines regarding the use of its trademark and logos in online and off-line advertising for the event. Violation of these rules could result in our Full Tilt Poker pros and online qualifiers being prevented from wearing our logo at any of this year's televised tournaments, which is why we are asking that you fully read and follow these new guidelines.
Specifically, as a Full Tilt Poker affiliate, YOU MAY NOT:

• Use either the WSOP's poker chip logo or stacked logo, or any image of a WSOP bracelet in any of your advertising or in any communications to your players.
• You may not use the words World Series of Poker or the WSOP acronym in the official names or headlines of any contests or promotions you are running on your site, or in the titles of any websites, pages, press releases, advertisements, or articles.
• The words 'World Series of Poker' and the 'WSOP' acronym may not be used more than TWO TIMES EACH PAGE in any written material, whether online or off-line, provided that use is part of a textual sentence.
• All usage of the words World Series of Poker* or WSOP* must be marked with an ASTERISK (*), and the following disclaimer must appear on every page where these terms are used, in a location and type size that is reasonably likely to be seen and read by consumers:

*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, ________ [company name] or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

For more information on the trademark usage guidelines, please download http://dps.twiihosting.net/wsop/doc/content/doc_591_146.pdf

[Jeremy]

This could be problematic......

[Graham]

I just read that also. So what does this mean for the Poker News WSOP* Freerolls?

*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, Poker News or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

[Jeremy]

Maybe we'll just call them qualifiers for the Big $10K Poker Main Event in Las Vegas on July 6th.

This is certainly Harrah's throwing down these rules to FullTilt. So basically if any poker news site, bluff, cardplayer, or any online media wants to report on the WSOP they can't use that acronym?

Sometimes I wonder if corporate America is run by monkey's. I have to end this post know as I have now mentioned the WSOP acronym. I'll be chatting with the rest of our team tonight in regards to this.

[corpfan1]

This is a total joke.

I am gonna have to register corpfan as a registered trademark and not permit anyone to use it.

Why is Harrah's just trying to piss everyone off?

[Justin]

I was just about to post this. It seems a bit extreme to me, but Im sure their legal team drew it all up for whats in the best interest of Harrah's.

I love how Harrah's tries to distance themselves from the online poker scene, yet they rely on it so heavily. It's like the NFL saying betting on football hurts their revenue.

[Graham]

Are there any ways around this using spelling mistakes? Ie. Using WS0P (Zero instead of an O), or World Series of Pokker / World Sereis of Poker?

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Sometimes I wonder if corporate America is run by monkey's. I have to end this post know as I have now mentioned the WSOP acronym.

Note that the limit is two times per page, not per post. Thus if someone else on the thread uses the acronym, PAW is no longer in compliance under those rules.

Just in case it wasn't clear to anyone just how ridiculous those rules are....

[kdollar]

I am really dreading trying to comply with this...I hope there is clarification and it is not as drastic as it looks right now

[J S]

You guys ever notice that wsop.com is not a world series of poker site?

A well known poker blogger has the detailed story on the battle for the acronym and corresponding web address, WSOP.com http://www.hintzes.com/poker/wsop-dot-com_main.htm for more.