‘Caliphate’ trade mark: England, 2003–2008
On 31 January 2003, the ‘Caliphate’ applied under the Trade Marks Act 1994 for registration of a series of four trade marks. For administrative purposes these were split into two series of two trade marks.
31 January 2003
The ‘Caliphate’ applies for registration of a series of four trade marks.
26 January 2004
Starfire Publishing Limited files notice of opposition, arguing that “O.T.O.” and related forms are, or ought to be considered, generic terms.
6 August 2007
The Hearing Officer declines to make a finding on the legitimacy of either party and treats the marks as unable to denote the goods or services of a single entity.
3 October 2007
William Breeze, ‘Caliph’ of the ‘Caliphate’-O.T.O. in the United States, gives notice of appeal.
6 June 2008
The Appeals Officer rules that the ‘Caliphate’s registrations of the name and Lamen may proceed in the United Kingdom.
“It is clear that there are a number of groups who follow the beliefs of Thelema or Thelemic Law that use the title Ordo Templi Orientis […] The marks in suit therefore do not, and cannot, act as a trade mark denoting the goods or services of a single entity.”
Technical point, not historical legitimacy. The appeal decision was made on technical points of law, not by evidence submitted on historical legitimacy. The phrase “average consumer” is doing the little dance here: in this case it was not restricted to people interested in the occult, but could be anybody.
Names in the dossier
Items of historical interest
- In 1930, Karl Germer sent a description of Aleister Crowley LTD. to Fernando Pessoa.
- Aleister Crowley: This is the Last Will.
- Karl Germer, Louis Wilkinson and Lady Frieda Harris.
- National Grandmasters and OHOs of the O.T.O.
Legal and documentary background
Cases, claims, copyrights
- Lawyers and historians: The ‘Caliphate’ versus the Truth? — introduction.
- The Maine Decision 1984 [to the disfavour of the ‘Caliphate’] | The California Decision 1985 [to the favour of the ‘Caliphate’].
- Purchase of the copyrights on Aleister Crowley from the Official Receiver.
- The 1999 Particulars of Claim [‘Caliphate’].
- Financial Reports 1996–1999 of the ‘Caliphate’.
- Erroneous opinion on the International Copyright Situation. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the ‘Caliphate’ in 2000.
- Library of Congress, letter dated 6 September 2000.
- Court Order of October 2000.
- The 2002 Ruling.
- The Summary so far.
- Ordo Templi Orientis — Trade Mark — Starfire Publishing Limited.
Naylor, Graeb, structure, money
- What the ‘Caliphate’ does not want you to know. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the ‘Caliphate’ in 2000.
- Crowley’s Probate. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the ‘Caliphate’ in 2000.
- ‘Caliphate’ Capers. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the ‘Caliphate’ in 2000. Based upon a draft by James Graeb.
- Structure, Constitutions and Money. Partly written by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the ‘Caliphate’ in 2000.
- Anonymous: Burning Down The House. ‘Caliphate’, Argenteum Astrum, James Wasserman, Donald Trump — written in 2021.
- 2000, July: An analysis of the Bylaws of the ‘Caliphate’ and its Board of Directors. By James Graeb.
- 2000, July: Incorporation of O.T.O., Argentum Astrum and E.G.C.
- 2000: “Caliphate-O.T.O. Win” and the Writing on the Wall. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the ‘Caliphate’ in 2000.
- James T. Graeb, co-founder and IX° of the ‘Caliphate’, a lawyer, calls the ‘Caliphate’ a “Puppet Show Piece” and files suit vs William Breeze, William Heidrick, Marcus Jungkurth et alii in 2001.
Some things
- Court case Hermann Joseph Metzger vs Walter Englert in the 1970s.
- 1991 Opinion of a German prosecuting attorney’s office on the body of the ‘Caliphate’.
- Erfahrungsbericht eines O.T.O.-Mitglieds im Zusammenhang mit dem Gerichtsprozess ‘Caliphat’ gegen Hänssler-Verlag, 1990.
- Unsuccessful attempt in Yugoslavia.
- Censorship in the UK.
- The ‘Caliphate’ Book Patrol: Fahrenheit 418.
- Paul Joseph Rovelli versus the ‘Caliphate’, New York, January 2000.
- 1998, July 17 — 2000 October: Austrian situation on copyrights [German and English].
- Trademark O.T.O. By Leslie Anne Childress.
- 2007 ‘Caliphat’ Kasino in Deutschland.
- English translation: 2007 ‘Caliphate’ Casino.
- 2008: Honesty is the best Policy: ‘Caliphate’ O.T.O. / William Breeze lost in a legal case.
- Deutsche Version: Ehrlich währt am Längsten: Warum der O.T.O. gegen P.R. Koenig verlor.
Other background
- The ‘Caliphate’.
- Discussion about the instrument of succession. An introduction to the background, followed by a transcript of this discussion.
- Minutes of the 11 IX°s ‘Caliphate’ election in 1985 where it was clearly said that the ‘Caliph’ is not the juro OHO.
- Playgame of an O.T.O.-Fatamorgana — Statistics, Censorship, Name Dropping. 2011.
- Traduction française: Jeu de rôle d’une O.T.O.-Fatamorgana.
- Traduzione italiana: La versione play-game di un O.T.O.-Fatamorgana.
- Gaps in the Script of Esotericism: Hypocrisy and Hypercrisis — Oscar Wilde: Ambition is the last resort of failure.
- Fetish, Self-Induction, Stigma and Rôleplay. 2011.
- Traduction française: Fétiche, auto-induction, stigmatisation et jeu de rôle.
- Traduzione italiana: Il feticcio, l’auto-induzione, lo stigma, il gioco di ruolo.
- Tlumaczenie polskie: Fetysz. Rytualy. Resocjalizacja: Tozsamosc przez stygmat. Autoindukowana schizofrenia. Odgrywanie ról.
- По русски: Фетиш, самоиндукция, стигма и ролевая игра.
- More about all this in: Andreas Huettl and Peter-R. Koenig: Satan — Jünger, Jäger und Justiz.
- Scattered On The Floor.
- Browsing Through The Rituals.