Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's Mom, Files For Trademarks

The mother of slain teenager Trayvon Martin is seeking trademarks for two phrases that have become associated with the movement surrounding her son's death.

The Smoking Gun reports that Sybrina Fulton filed two applications for trademarks of the phrases, "I Am Trayvon" and "Justice for Trayvon."

Some Smoking Gun commenters seem to think the move is an effort to profit from the outpouring of support for Martin.

One commenter wrote:

Crowd of hundreds: "Justice for Trayvon Martin!"

Mom: "Thank you, all! Now that will be $9.95 from each of you for using his name."

But Victor Baranowski, a patent attorney with the law firm Schmeiser, Olsen and Watts in Latham, N.Y., told The Huffington Post that people can seek trademarks for all sorts of non-economic reasons.

"If you trademark the name, that's going to prevent others from doing it and potentially capitalizing on it in a negative way or a different way than you want," Baranowski said. "In a case like this, there's gonna be others who would want to. So does she want to let somebody else do something with her son's name or does she want it for herself?"

During the "Million Hoodie March" in support of Martin's cause, a HuffPost reporter saw piles of merchandise for sale with Martin's face on it. It was not being sold by anyone affiliated with Martin's family.

A Twitter controversy also erupted over a flyer for a party, allegedly to raise funds for a scholarship in Martin's name.

A line on the flyer that said, "Everyone free B4 11 with an empty bag of Skittles," caused the controversy, according to TheGrio.com.

Martin bought Skittles just before he was shot and killed by self-appointed neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, who told police he killed Martin in self-defense.

Martin's family and the thousands of others who have rallied around Martin's cause, have called for Zimmerman's arrest. The case is now with the Florida State Attorney’s Office.

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Comments

[tsancer]

07:01 PM on 03/04/2013

What the ::::Only one thing to say : Messed Up

[Tommy Crowe]

06:19 PM on 04/23/2012

Okay...so I'm a bleeding heart here. She lost her kid. She can't bring her kid back. Why not prevent others from cashing in on her pain? My first thought was to condemn as well, however, if I were in her shoes...I'd be a protective parent too. Read the entire article before you place judgement. I can't stand when lawsuits and marketing on someone's loss of life are main priority...however, I think in this case, it's a little different. Hopefully she'll do the right thing and donate money raised (if any) to a charitable cause in her son's name.

[wheres ur morals]

09:57 PM on 03/29/2012

Sickening and they should be ashamed.

[Poppy Potts]

04:26 PM on 03/29/2012

why do we want to think the worst of her? What kind of a mother has this sort of thing on her mind when she is suffering the loss of her son? Savvy parents? They don't care about their son half as much as they care about fame and making money. Its tacky and disgusting. If they cared so much about him, he wouldn't have even been on that street in the first place.

[JGONYC]

10:47 PM on 03/28/2012

Savvy parents? Yes. In vain to make money? Sure, why not? In a day of celebrity perfumes, garbage reality shows, crooked banks and all of the other morally questionable ways people make money in this country, doesn't it make sense that Trayvon's parents would own the assets that are unequivocally associated with their son's name?

Trust me the Huffpost and CNN made more money off the interest to this story than Trayvon's parents likely will if anything trademarking these phrases. Better them than some else doing it. Seriously.

[Captain Ferrell]

06:28 PM on 03/28/2012

I think Zimmerman is telling the truth. He was attacked and was protecting himself. I think Sybrina wants to get her a check. I also believe all of the rallies, candle light vigils and such are insanity.

[Micaanab]

01:40 PM on 03/28/2012

Why is this mothers actions being dissected?
If she did it for the money or to stop others from doing so is not the question. The question is what kind of person tries to dig up dirt on a grieving mother?
I have a question, did Zimmermans mother ever have do drugs? Why have I not heard anything about her?

[PoundOFun]

12:19 PM on 03/28/2012

Folks a month ago, we were consumed with the death of Whitney Houston, consumed by it...in a few more weeks, sadly, this case will be just another sound bite on the news....it is important that we stay focused and stop trying to vilify this family. The buried a child

[PoundOFun]

12:10 PM on 03/28/2012

This family thus far has had 5 lawyers speak on their behalf. They have made the rounds to all the important media venues, excluding FOX of course. It is my wish and hope that this issue does not get lost in the $$$$$ that will soon become apart of this case. A child is dead and justice is needed...that is what is important here.....this marketing thing, its not good. Let whomever whatever who wants to profit off of this have at it....the Martins need justice, not money from a dead child.

[igdoodle]

11:21 AM on 03/28/2012

Why not get a comment/explanation from her and include it in the headline? I would bet $$ it is to keep others from using his name inappropriately and profiting from it.

The headline would be patently different: Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's Mom, Files For Trademarks to Prevent Unauthorized Use. That would be a much more accurate headline, and wouldn't elicit the disparaging comments about her. But then again, that probably wouldn't go along with the discrediting campaign that is currently being waged against Trayvon and by extension his family - would it?

[dcsaulter]

11:39 AM on 03/30/2012

I could not agree more. Someone probably told her to do this. I am sure she did not think of it on her own. You don't know what you would do when something gets this out of control. People should not be judging her. Fanned and Faved!!

[CogentThought]

11:12 AM on 03/28/2012

How very crass.

[bankruptcountry]

10:06 AM on 03/28/2012

This is the kind of culture that will make people to stop at nothing to make money. Gee, what kind of society has we become??

Very unethical and very offensive!!!

[bankruptcountry]

10:03 AM on 03/28/2012

This deeply unethical and very offensive!! The people who making money out of this should be ashamed as well as the parents who trademark his name for monetary purpose.

Wow! People will not stop at nothing in this country. There is nothing off limit in term of making money. Then we wonder why our entire society is corrupt! This is the kind of culture and lifestyle that make people on wall street to stop at nothing.

[LibertarianCentrist]

09:48 AM on 03/28/2012

this could be the most disgusting thing ever.......... she automatically wins worst, most classless, trashy person ever award.....

[goldbry]

09:37 AM on 03/28/2012

Dear HuffPo:

Please fix the egregious use of the apostrophe on the home page. Grammarians everywhere are choking on their morning coffee.

Sincerely,
A fan.