Author’s Note: Let’s Try This Again

This week marks a hopeful return to regular posting at Catsignal. At minimum, there will be a new haiku and a new Quotable each Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. I hope also to post weekly about something happening in the writing world, an interesting piece someone else has written, or something I’ve been thinking about concerning writing. I hope you’ll join me again.

Pen to Paper: #Cockygate

Writers and other creative folks will want to keep an eye on a trademark controversy that exploded recently.

Romance author Feelina Hopkins has trademarked the word “cocky” and is telling other romance writers who have that word in the titles of their books to change their titles – even if those titles predate her own. Needless to say, this has caused an uproar in the romance world, and it’s going to be a cautionary tale for everyone else no matter how it shakes out.

Romance author and retired attorney Kevin Kneupper (Twitter) has filed a challenge (Dropbox) to Hopkins’ trademark with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He says it could take up to 18 months for the issue to be settled.