Can anyone tell me if the term “MUni” is still copyrighted? I seem to recall the term being under copyright by Pashley cycles in the UK, but since it’s such a generalized term in common usage these days, I wonder if it even matters anymore.
Am I crazy to think that it was ever “owned” by anyone? If it was/is, what does that mean for all of us mountain unicyclists that throw about the word so often?
-JD
I’m going with crazy on this one. If someone from this forum ever found out that a company copyrighted a generalized sports term like MUni, the backlash would be so strong and permanent that it would probably be the last time that company ever sold sporting gear.
If someone did copyright “muni” we’d just have to call that style of riding “blue ivy cartering”.
that happened in France where the term “M.T.T” (Monocycle tout terrain) was copyrighted. But this was not by a company but by an idealist who wanted the sport to go by certain rules… :o
I don’t think there is a copyright but I believe it is a trademark of Pashley. It is in common use these days but it wasn’t back then. I’m no expert on the law but I’ve seen a few Judge Judys, I belive the trademark thing means you can still happily talk about muni but couldn’t sell a product called a ‘Muni’, eg you couldn’t have a “Kris Holm Muni”. A “Muni” can only be made by Pashley, but you can have a unicycle made by another manufacturer that is suitable for muni riding.
It gets a brief mention on John Foss’s website:
http://www.unicycling.com/brett/e_muni/faq.html
Hmmm; I’m always careful before comparing a unicycle to whatever you name what Pashley makes. But above statement seems in line with my opinion 
Or one could just look it up:
Word Mark MUNI
Goods and Services IC 039. US 100 105. G & S: Public transportation of passengers by motor coach, electrically powered vehicle, light-rail vehicle, cable car and paratransit. FIRST USE: 19740101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19740101
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number 75868216
Filing Date December 10, 1999
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition August 29, 2000
Registration Number 2406171
Registration Date November 21, 2000
Owner B City and County of San Francisco MUNICIPAL CORPORATION CALIFORNIA One South Van Ness Ave. 3rd floor San Francisco CALIFORNIA 94103[/B]
Attorney of Record Robin M. Reitzes
Description of Mark The mark consists of the word “MUNI” in a stylized design.
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20091202.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20091202
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
I’ve always pronounced it as “myoo-nee”, but I have also heard others say it as the letter M plus the word Uni (M-Uni). Which way is preferred or correct?
Hmm
Crazy it is, then. Although I guess the word I meant to use was “trademark,” not “copyright”.
Thanks for the link, Verbyl, that’s a handy way to look stuff up. I think I’d like to renew the trademark on MuniZorb just… for the fun of it.
In the end I was just wondering. Thanks for the responses.
-JD
PS Anyone want to go blue ivy cartering this weekend?