Burning Man's copyright Nazis

PAUL BOUTIN — Burning Man, the Bay Area's annual alt.credibility event for geeks, has gone from "radical self-expression" to self-litigation. Founders Larry Harvey and Michael Mikel each want sole ownership of the name. Third founder John Law, who split a decade ago, has sued both to free the Burning Man name into the public domain. Law wants to "keep anyone from having an exclusive right to capitalize on these brands."

Burning Man fans are split. In theory, Burning Man belongs to everybody, even me. In practice, setting the name free would allow Starbucks, Nike and Hummer to legally use it in products and promos. The dirty secret is that old-school hippie Harvey and his team have kept Burning Man's name clean for twenty years through diligent, ruthless enforcement of their corporate trademark. Test it yourself: Post an item on eBay with "PERFECT FOR BURNING MAN" and get out your stopwatch.

John Law Sues His Former Burning Man Partners [Laughing Squid]

Burning Man Founders Mired in Dispute [SF Examiner]

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