From: "Carlo Stagnaro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Lew Rockwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Jim Bovard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Ralph Raico" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Matthew Gaylor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: canadian flag Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 14:52:33 +0100
Dear Friends, A few days ago, Canadian government ordered FORCES Canada to remove Canadian flag from its website. They said the flag is a trademark of the government (!). Since no other site has been forced to do it, many argue Canadian government legally attacked FORCES (http://www.forces.org) since it is a pro-right to smoke organization. Please find below the incredible story. Hope you find this of interest. Best, carlo __________________________________ Why do we have a Canadian flag on our site? Here is the incredible story. January 9th, 2001 - FORCES Canada receives a phone call from the Treasury Board/Secretariat Canada. It is demanded to cease and desist from using thew Canadian flag on the FORCES Canada site, because the Canadian Government has the trademark on the flag, and it does not allow citizens to use it. A written comunication on this issue is required by FORCES Canada. ______________ January 10th - The communication is transmitted via e-mail, as shown below: Subj:trademark infringement Date:1/10/2002 8:17:23 AM Pacific Standard Time From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pat, this is further to our telephone conversation of January 9, 2002 regarding products identified on the Forces Canada Internet site that were infringing on a registered trademark held by the Government of Canada. The flag symbol is a global identifier of the Government of Canada. It is used to identify federal institutions and is protected under the Trademarks Act (Section 9 (1)(n)(iii) of the Act). The flag symbol was approved and entered as an official mark of the Government of Canada on the Trademarks Register held by the Canadian Trademarks Office, which is part of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office at Industry Canada, on 30 September 1987. As discussed, there is evidence that Forces Canada Internet site is advertising on the World Wide Web bearing the flag symbol of the Government of Canada. You are advised that your organization must take immediate corrective action with respect to infringement of this trademark. In addition we require a written undertaking to immediately cease and desist displaying the flag symbol on the Forces Canada Internet site and all associated pubic relations products. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Jan Ovens 613-957-2544 I [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I Facsimile/Tilicopieur : 613-946-5187 Federal Identity Program, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Programme de coordination de l'lmage de marque, Secritariat du Conseil du Trisor du Canada 400 Cooper St. | 400, rue Cooper | Ottawa Canada K1A 0R5 ______________ January 10th - FORCES Canada replies: Date: 1/10/2002 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Jan: Thank you for your written directive. I am arranging to have the flag removed from the FORCES Canada website as soon as possible. When this has been done, I will advise you. It will also be removed from any other materials used by our FORCES Chapter. FORCES Chapters are grassroots, volunteer groups. We do not buy or sell anything. The only thing we "advertise" by use of the flag is our geographic locations. I must tell you that this situation has produced incredulity, not only on our part but in our international Chapters as well. With this type of 'ownership' of what was a unifying Canadian citizen identification symbol, it's impossible to dialogue with counterparts in other countries on the basis of a "free" nation status. Thank you for the very professional way in which you have handled this matter. I appreciate your civility. Best regards, Pat ______________ January 11th - the flag is removed, and this letter follows: Dear Jan: The Canadian flag has been removed from FORCES CANADA - What's New and FORCES CANADA Please confirm that this Website modification is satisfactory. Thank you and best regards, Pat ______________ January 16th - This letter is received by the Canadian Government: Subj: trademark infringement Date: 1/16/2002 10:45:36 AM Pacific Standard Time From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pat, I have visited the Forces Canada Internet site and concur that the necessary corrective action has taken place with respect to the trade-mark infringement issue identified in my E-mail to you of January 10, 2002. Thank you for your prompt attention to this issue. My regards. ______________ January 18th - Gian Turci, Canadian citizen living in Italy, sends the following letter to Mr. Ovens: Dear Mr. Ovens, Please check the site www.forcesitaly.org, of which I am responsible. You will find that I am in violation of your "trademark." I take sole responsibility for this act of individualism, as a Canadian citizen, against a once great nation. I left Canada because, as a Canadian, I could no longer tolerate the violations of human rights perpetrated against smokers, as the Canadian Government has embraced junk science, scientific corruption, and systematic disinformation on smoking as its public policy. I do not intend to remove the Canadian flag from the above-mentioned site. Please proceed with the lawsuit against me; you have no choice, since I am in violation of your law. You may find that many other sites, in the near future, will be in violation of your law. Please report to the Canadian Government, and tell them to take that law and shove it - together with the antitobacco frauds. Nothing personal, Mr. Ovens; we are both professionals: you have the duty to enforce the ownership of the State-Oppressor, and I have the duty to fight for liberty and truth. Regards, Gian Turci ______________ The Canadian flag is considered as an identifier in very many applications, from souvenirs to commercial use. Considering the ferocity of the attacks on smokers and the tobacco industry by the Canadian Government, the reason why the Canadian Reich has singled out FORCES is obvious to anyone who visits either FORCES Canada (www.forces-cdn.com) , or FORCES International (www.forces.org). But what is more important, is the concept that a flag which, by definition, defines the people of a nation, is considered as a definition of Government instead, clearly indicating the perception the Government of Canada has of Canadians. Considering that Canada is perceived by many as a "leading nation" in the globalisation process, thus a model to follow, this is yet another demonstration of what globalisation really means. Any support from our Libertarian friends is appreciated. ************************************************************************** Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-30 messages per week) Matthew Gaylor, (614) 313-5722 ICQ: 106212065 Archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fa/ **************************************************************************
