[SFDXA] This is a bad trend…..

[Todd Coulter]

Copied from the N6PSE website. http://n6pse.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/this-is-a-bad-trend-2/
 
 
The hobby of amateur radio has many phrases and a unique terminology. Within DXing we have a
unique set of terms that we use regularly. QSO, contact, QSL, QRZ, five-nine, pileup, 73 and many others.
Each year at about this time of the year, we think about the best DXpeditions of the previous year and who might win
the various awards for the best DXpedition. These awards are commonly known as “DXpedition of the Year” and they are
often given at the “DX Dinner”.
A number of clubs and international amateur websites give a DXpedition of the Year award and many clubs and conventions
have a DX Dinner. This is all good so far. 
Here is the rub, the Southwest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) has trademarked the
terms “DXpedition of the Year” and “DX Dinner”. 
This essentially makes these terms belong to them for their use and control.
They can file suit and prosecute anyone else who uses these terms without their permission.
Now I’m not a lawyer (obviously) but how can a club trademark terms that we all know and use?
What’s next? Will they trademark the term DX? (too late its already trademarked)
Will they trademark the term DXpedition? How about Contest or DX Contest?
I think trademarking these common terms within our hobby is wrong.
I liken it to the same greedy and “me me me” attitude so prevalent in our hobby these days. 
The SWODXA organization is a great club and they are very generous to DXpeditions.
That is why this trend is even more wrong for them to undertake. I think it tarnishes their stellar image. 
I liken it to the Contesters creating phony clubs and hoarding all of the available 1X2 call signs for
their phony clubs. This is a bad trend and it concerns me what will be trademarked next?
The Southwest Ohio DX Association needs to rethink their trademarking policy and give these terms
back to the hobby of amateur radio for everyone to use freely. 
What do you think?