The Iowa Attorney General has released a decision on the former Secretary of State’s request for trademarks on some program titles and slogans. Former Secretary of State Paul Pate applied for the trademarks on such slogans as “Iowa Kids Caucus” and “Generation Vote” just before he left office. Pate said he developed the slogans and titles while in office and was seeking to trademark them to protect their integrity. New Secretary of State Chet Culver asked the Attorney General for an opinion on the use of the slogansas the state could have been required to pay Pate for their use. The A-G is advising Culver that the State and the Secretary of State’s office clearlyhave the right to use the slogans and titles and Pate’s trademarks do not supercede the State’s interest. The Attorney General refused to issue anopinion on whether Pate’s registration of the trademarks was a conflict of interest or illegal. The A-G’s opinion says that issue may be moreappropriately resolved through the legal process.
