Religion, trade, commerce
How the 'Caliphate' could claim to be a “religion” AND a “trade” (i.e. commerce) at one and the same time? Anyway look at the bottom of their new revised home page at oto-usa.org and it says:
“Template ‘index.html’ last modified on Friday, May 09, 2003. All material © 1996-2003 by Ordo Templi Orientis. Ordo Templi Orientis, OTO, and the OTO Lamen are registered trademarks of Ordo Templi Orientis. Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica is a registered trademark of Ordo Templi Orientis USA. Webmaster email: webmaster@oto-usa.org.”
Has anyone tried to look up ‘exactly where’ these alleged trademarks are registered? CAN someone actually register something like the ‘OTO Lamen’ considering it was in the public domain (I believe)?
Well I have verified that OTO — in Canada and I assume in Switzerland too since the head office is Swiss — is NOT a ‘registered trademark’ of the ‘Caliphate’...
Canadian and U.S. traces
I found the USA registry, the Swiss OTO is registered there too, and, surprisingly, the registration of trademark of O.T.O. by the bezerklians is actually “dead” (???) since 1998...
Very strange that it would be “cancelled/dead” and yet mentioned on their website as a “registered trademark”, well I think so, anyhow...
Now this is interesting, it was only published four days ago for ‘opposition’ — which I assume means that one could legally challenge the registration. What I find hilarious is the “playing cards” bit on both registrations!
The disclaimer is good, nice to know they aren't claiming exclusive use of the Catholic Church bit! LOL!
Also, in Canada, the little dog is registered as an “OTO logo design” TM, I thought it was cute :-)
Wonder why the ‘Caliphate’ let the “OTO” name lapse? Maybe that's why there is so much interest now in promoting themselves as a “Thelemic Community”... (?)
I had lots of trouble with their [TESS] search, then I had a thought, to try looking for Trademarks owned by “Ordo Templi Orientis”. The list shows 11 that they own...
Here’s two more, one is the one that is “dead” since May 4, 1998 and the other, surprisingly, lists Bill Breeze as the “Attorney”. That one is still “live”, too... but it's “O.T.O.” with the periods.... I haven't yet looked at all the other 8 most of which are “dead” anyway, but so far I haven't found them owning the “OTO Lamen” as a Trademark, anywhere...
Ok in case you want to see the other docs, I will tell you how to get there: go to the USPTO trademarks site; on the left-hand side of the menu, click on “search trademarks” under “Services” — I think they log you in there, which is why you couldn't follow my links before. Then choose “New User Form Search (Basic)”; type “Ordo Templi Orientis” and in the “Field” menu put “owner name and address”. That brought me to the page listing the 11 that they own.
Hahaha the date “First used in Commerce” is 1919.... and the date first in use is 1912!
Remark by PRK
The Lamen was designed in 1893/1894 by Gabriel Albinet for Joseph Péladan's french Rosicrucian Circle, 3e Salon de la R+C. The Founder of the O.T.O., Theodor Reuss first used it in 1906, Crowley pretended to be the inventor of the lamen although he became a member of the O.T.O. in 1910. And secondly — their registry for the O.T.O.: dated January 1906. This proves that they were and are aware that the logo was used in the 1906 constitution. Several years before Crowley became a member.
I was thinking today how nice it is that the public can access all sorts of information esp. such things as corporate documentation...
Leslie Anne Childress, May 2003.
See also the Moosejumps.
Kenneth Grant
John Symonds
Francis King
Karl Germer
Items of Historical Interest
- In 1930, Karl Germer sent a description of the 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.
Some background information
- 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 (OR).
- The 1999 Particulars of Claim ['Caliphate'].
- Financial Reports 1996-1999 of the 'Caliphate'.
- Erraneous opinion on the International Copyright Situation. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the 'Caliphate' in 2000.
- 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.
- Library of Congress, letter dated September 6, 2000.
- 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 The Writing on the Wall. Text by Anthony Naylor before he lost his case against the 'Caliphate' in 2000.
- Court Order of October 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.
- The 2002 Ruling.
- The Summary so far.
- Ordo Templi Orientis - Trade Mark - Starfire Publishing Limited.
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.
- Unsuccessfull 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.