Where’s the love, Newsweek?

Evidently Newsweek loves Palintology, but surely there’s someone over there that knows how to use Google. Google ‘Palintology’ or ‘Palintologist’ and this site is your first result for both searched terms. My copyright notice is clearly displayed and it’s not really nice to just take it from me like that. Obviously they think it’s valuable or they wouldn’t use it for the cover, right?

Don’t get me wrong, I love how the media and the public have embraced the term, mostly anyway, but it didn’t just appear from nowhere and with some Creative Commons license. This site has been online and has layed claim to both words as logo and identifying marks of this site for almost 2 years.

Come on, Newsweek, this ain’t right. You’re using my idea to sell magazines. Give credit where credit is due and don’t steal my header for the cover of your mag. Those little words at the bottom of the page mean something. I mean, you’ve got them on yours.

5(c) All rights in the product names, company names, trade names, logos, product packaging, and designs of all Newsweek, Newsweek affiliate, or third-party products or services, whether or not appearing in large print or with the trademark symbol, belong exclusively to Newsweek or their respective owners, and are protected from reproduction, imitation, dilution, or confusing or misleading uses under national and international trademark and copyright laws. The use or misuse of these trademarks or any materials, except as permitted herein, is expressly prohibited, and nothing stated or implied on the Service confers on you any license or right under any patent or trademark of Newsweek, its affiliates, or any third party.

I’ve contacted them and asked that they acknowledge the site and the origin of the term. Malicious intent or not, it’s mine. I guess we’ll see how it goes.

*edit: I’ve received many emails and to answer the most commonly asked question, Yes, I do actually have Trademark rights in Palintology & Palintologist. I’m in the process of perfecting a registration application.

Thanks for all the support I’ve received. It will really help if you repost or blog about this on your own site. I am currently talking with attorneys and will post more when I have new information.