Saturday, July 09, 2005

Follow the money...around "Operation Interdependence®" [sic]




This post at Kos which points to this satirical post here, led me here...

Operation Interdependence® is a civilian-to-military delivery system® that serves as a program for Americans to demonstrate their support for our deployed military.

Across the nation, men and women are given orders to deploy on a regular scheduled deployment. These deployments are known to the public and allow our service members and their families to plan. However, special orders are given as well for our nation's military to deploy at a moment's notice.

Operation Interdependence® is designed to support regularly scheduled deployments. Information is given to military officials in order for the military leadership to have a grasp on our support. We do not nor do we want to interfere with special deployments, unless specifically requested by the deployed forces. It is imperative to all participating
with O.I.®, to learn that care packaging can produce an unintended consequence, pulling a service man or woman from vital training only to be placed in a special deployment with training minus the hours lost due to attending to care packages from home.

We are essentially creating the work force from this side of the fence, and contributing to removing a logistical tail that tends to present some required decisions other than focusing on the battle plan. Everything we do must put the decision makers in the best position to carry out the strategies that will secure our freedoms.


I couldn't find anything on their site that talked about their finances, which, I would have thought, would be a question that would be asked of them frequently.

But I did see a link called "patents," which, when clicked, a helpful pop-up appears that declares:

Patents

This site and services provided by Operation Interdependence™, Inc. is protected by copyrights and one or more of the following United States and international patents:

· U.S. Patent and Trademark Certificate of Registration Number 2,825,195

· U.S. Patent and Trademark Certificate of Registration Number 2,803,850


Ah so... the plot thickens...so I'm invited to go to the USPTO to find...

Word Mark CIVILIAN-TO-MILITARY DELIVERY SYSTEM
Goods and Services IC 039. US 100 105. G & S: Parcel delivery services, namely, transporting and delivering gift packages from American civilians to deployed American military personnel. FIRST USE: 20011219. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20011219
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 78227342
Filing Date March 19, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Supplemental Register Date October 9, 2003
Registration Number 2803850
Registration Date January 6, 2004
Owner (REGISTRANT) Operation Interdependence CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 574 E Dougherty Street Fallbrook CALIFORNIA 92028
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "DELIVERY SYSTEM" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register SUPPLEMENTAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE


And:

Word Mark CROSSING THE LINE TOGETHER
Goods and Services IC 039. US 100 105. G & S: Parcel delivery services, namely, transporting gift packages from American civilians to deployed American military personnel. FIRST USE: 20011219. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20011219
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 78227333
Filing Date March 19, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition December 30, 2003
Registration Number 2825195
Registration Date March 23, 2004
Owner (REGISTRANT) OPERATION INTERDEPENDENCE CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 574 E DOUGHERTY STEET FALLBROOK CALIFORNIA 92028
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE


Now that's kind of odd: patents are not trademarks.

In fact, as the USPTO proclaims:


Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights are three types of intellectual property protection. They are different and serve different purposes. Patents protect inventions, and improvements to existing inventions. Trademarks include any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. Service marks include any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce, to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services. Copyrights protect literary, artistic, and musical works. For general information, publications and other copyright related topics, you may visit their Web site at http://www.copyright.gov. Copyrights information can be obtained from the U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20559 or you may call 202 707-3000 or 202 707-6737 (TTY).


So, it seems, that "Operation Interdependence®" really isn't intending to represent Americans, but itself.

Why?

Where's the money go?

Inquiring minds want to know.


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