On trademarking "Hare Krishna Movement"

Krishna kirti prabhu, I had a similar reaction on reading of the Euro GBC's desire to trademark "Hare Krishna Movement".

It might be just me, but it kinda seems like "trying to become the most famous son of the family by killing everyone else with the same last name"...

In considering the cost of doing this I hope they take into account the negative publicity and damage to the ISKCON brand caused by these periodic attempts to step outside our legitimate boundaries.

Another thing is although I have brought this Sankirtana Movement to the Western World we cannot make it copyrighted. The Sankirtana Movement is not my invention. So how can it be copyrighted? Besides that, as you will find in the album of my previous recording, the chanting of Hare Krishna is going on since time immemorial. So Hare Krishna cannot be copyrighted, although the tune in which I sing with my disciples, that may be made copyrighted. I have no objection to sign this agreement, but don't be misled that the chanting of Hare Krishna or Lord Caitanya's Movement can be made copyrighted.

- Letter to Dinesh, 10 June, 1969

Surely focusing on embodying and raising the perceived value of our own brand "ISKCON" is a better way to establish leadership in our "vertical market"?

Purity, rather than legislated monopoly, should be our force of choice.