The Capitalism of Anti-Capitalism T-Shirts

Tuesday 01st of November 2011 02:31:58 AM

The Capitalism of Anti-Capitalism T-Shirts

The protests going on that are directed at big U.S. banks are supposedly about anti-capitalism and bank executive compensation which can run into millions of dollars. It’s a protest that has gone global because a lot of people are angry with the global financial system. In the U.S. the movement to object to the growing income divide between the lower and middle class and the wealthy bankers was named Occupy Wall Street with Wall Street being in the heart of the financial district.

When newscasters interview the people camped out in city parks, they proclaim they are against big money banks, businesses and compensations. Some of the camping protestors come right out and say they are protesting capitalism which is ironic considering a couple from New York is now trying to trademark the name of the movement so they can make money selling printed t-shirts and sweatshirts.

Adding a touch of profit making to the Occupy Wall Street movement was inevitable. The protest movement has been started in all 50 U.S. states now so it’s not surprising that an enterprising couple is attempting to take ownership of the name of the protest movement. The protestors are not too happy about this very capitalistic effort to trademark the name of their movement, but there’s really not much they can do to stop it. The couple that has filed for the trademark are generally viewed as being…well…too capitalistic by trying to make money off a movement protesting the making of money.

Once the trademark is approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the slogan Occupy Wall Street will begin appearing officially on plain t-shirts and bumper stickers and other items. It’s capitalism at its best!

The question is whether the Occupy Wall Street protestors will actually buy the trademarked items. There seems to be a general distaste for anyone making money off the slogan. Perhaps the protestors need to protest the protest slogan being trademarked!