I hate forwards but,
This has got to be the most outrageous, greedy,& selfish act I have ever heard off
PASS THIS SHIT ON....Don't forget to peep out the link at the bottom..!! Let em know what you think!!
>WHO REALLY OWNS HIP HOP?
>USE THE TERM 'HIP HOP' &PAY A LICENSING FEE
>by Davey D
>It looks like the Hip Hop community now faces its biggest challenge.
>Forget police task forces or discriminating night club owners, folks
>will now have to gear up to do some serious battle with a Los Angeles
>businessman named Richard Gonahangya and his company America Media
>Operative Inc. For those who don't know AMO Inc is a little known
>company that specializes in lobbying Congress and advising government
>officials on media policy. They yield a lot of influence over the FCC
>and other agencies that determine policy. The word around town is
>'what they say goes'.
>Gonahangya a staunch conservative, held a small press conference in
>Compton, Ca yesterday to announce that his company AMO Inc had
>recently trademarked and bought the rights to the word/phrase 'Hip
>Hop'. As a result they will soon start charging a licensing fee for
>anyone who wishes to use the word in a commercial/ for profit project.
>Taking advantage of a provision in the recently amended Millennium
>Copyright Act of 2001, Gonahangya explained that he and his company
>have all the legal ammunition and clearance to own the rights to the
>phrase 'Hip Hop'. He noted that the Hip Hop industry has generated
>over 20 billion dollars last year in the United States alone. The
>phrase Hip Hop is now a powerful marketing tool and his company is
>posed to profit handsomely in 2003 from its 'proper' usage. The new
>licensing fee is estimated to net AMO Inc a whooping 5-8 billion
>dollars a year.
>"Any business including record labels, videos, radio stations or
>television shows that use the phrase 'Hip Hop' in the title or
>marketing body of their work will have to pay AMO Inc a licensing
>fee", Gonahangya told reporters. 'We are not attempting to stifle
>free speech or muzzle popular culture.. we have no legal grounds from
>preventing anyone who wishes to use the word in everyday speech,
>however if you are using the word in a manner that associates you with
>a salable product, then we fully intend to collect our fee".
>Gonahangya went on to explain that what he is doing is not unusual.
>There are many popular words that are used in everyday conversations
>that are trademarked and cannot be used in commercial ventures without
>permission. 'The word 'Xerox' is often used interchangeably with
>'copy'. The word 'Vaseline' is used interchangeably with lotion or
>grease. he also explained that the word Rock-N-Roll is trademarked by
>a major label record executive who at the time could not charge a
>licensing fee.
>Gonahangya laid out his company's strategy for 2003. He explained
>that AMO Inc is giving record labels and performers a one month grace
>period to get their business affairs in order. Starting in May
>letters will be sent out to anyone who is using the term 'Hip Hop'
>explaining that the word is now trademarked and that if they wish to
>continue to use it in the body of their work, they will have to
>register with his company and be assessed a licensing fee. Letters
>have already been sent to several Hip Hop internet websites with more
>to come. He estimated the average fee will be anywhere from 2-5
>thousand dollars plus residual fees per project. Permission to use
>the word will be on a case by case basis. In addition any future
>projects released using the term ' Hip Hop' will have to have the 'TM'
>symbol next to the word.
>When asked if he felt AMO Inc was being exploitative and attempting to
>blackmail a viable popular culture, Gonahangya bluntly stated; 'This
>is not about culture. This is about business... The laws have been
>set up for anyone and everyone to use. Our company took advantage of
>what was on the books for almost a year and that what we are doing is
>now perfectly legal... Hip Hop is a big multi-billion dollar a year
>business. I was surprised that a big executive like Russell Simmons
>or Clive Davis or even business savy rappers like Jay-Z, P-Diddy or
>Eminem never trademarked the phrase. Everyone in America knows that
>you don't do business without protecting your assets. It's just plain
>stupid not to leave yourself this wide open.. If the Hip Hop
>community is that dumb when it comes to business then too bad. Don't
>make me out to be the bad guy".
>When asked if he intends to share any of the profits from licensing
>the word 'Hip Hop' with any of Hip Hop's pioneers including Lovebug
>Starski who first coined the phrase back in the lates 70s or Afrika
>Bambaataa who popularized and spread the word, Gonahangya laughed. 'I
>never heard of a Mr Starski and as for sharing profits with people
>from Africa..No my people are originally from Denmark, Norway.
>When another reporter told Gonahangya that Afrika Bambaataa was
>someone's name, Gonahangya shrugged it off and said he had no
>intentions of sharing the profits with anyone but his company and his
>family." However, he did offer a discounted licensing fee for Starski
>and Bambaataa since they coined and helped popularized the term.
>When asked if there would be any sort of criteria set up to determine
>who will and will not be allowed to use the phrase 'Hip Hop',
>Gonahangya explained that for most part if a company has the money and
>a viable revenue stream for residual payments then it should be a
>'piece of cake'. As for criteria, Gonahangya explained that he has
>very little tolerance and respect for individuals and companies that
>are attempting to use the phrase Hip Hop for political gain.
>"Recently the term 'Hip Hop' has been positioned as a
>progressive/liberal movement. That's unfair and a totally one-sided
>approach to what is an American institution.Hip Hop is for everyone
>It is not a slick political campaign tool for Jesse Jackson, Al
>Sharpton or Hillary Clinton.", he retorted
>Gonahangya became evasive when asked if he would allow the term Hip
>Hop to be used by any of the conservative organizations that he
>regularly associates with and lobbies for. " To be honest we have not
>ruled them out. We believe that Hip Hop needs to be politically
>balanced. For years Hip Hop has been associated with liberal causes
>that have totally undermined the moral fiber of this country. We will
>be very selective as to how Hip Hop will be used politically", he said
>Gonahangya continued; "I will assure you this... In the future you
>will not be seeing billboards or magazine ads with the words 'Hip Hop'
>and Reparations, 'Hip Hop' and Affirmative Action or even 'Hip Hop'
>and Black Power anytime soon. If it hasn't come through our offices
>and been granted a licensing fee then its existence will be in
>violation of the Millennium Copyright Act of 2001 and we intend to
>aggressively go after any violators and prosecute. This about
>political integrity and money".
>Some our speculating that Gonahangya intends to use his ownership of
>the now trademarked term 'Hip Hop' to quiet down any sort of political
>movement that has been organizing around the term in time for the 2004
>elections.
>We caught up with Greg Watkins webmaster of the popular site
>allhiphop.com and he noted that he had received a letter from
>Gonahangya's AMO Inc company earlier this month. "He told us in the
>letter that we were in violation of his this trademark law and that me
>and my partner Chuck would have to pay licensing fee if we wanted to
>keep the word 'Hip Hop in our name. We checked with our lawyers and
>found out that we were safe because we are allhiphop and not just 'hip
>hop'. It's obvious these guys are serious about collecting their
>money".
>We caught up with long time Bay Area writer and Hip Hop deejay Billy
>Jam who does the Hip Hop Slam radio show and has the website Hip Hop
>Slam. "Yeah this attorney contacted my attorney and said I would have
>to take the 'Hip Hop' out of Hip Hop Slam or pay a fee if I want to
>continue doing business. At first I thought it was a joke and then
>days later I received a subpoena to show up in court. I was told if I
>don't remove the word Hip Hop from Hip Hop Slam or pay a licensing fee
>then I could lose my house, my car and my prized record collection".
>Normally I don't give a damn about such things, but I can't afford to
>lose my records", Billy Jam said
>We caught up with popular Bay Area rapper /writer JR The Rap Slanger
>out of East Oakland. He said: " Look man, this country's always been
>about business and fools is gonna try and collect their paper. But
>this is straight up bullS%$T. How's this fool gonna try and trademark
>a word and collect a fee? Brothas need to rise up and retaliate and
>put a foot in his ass. But let's be honest, me personally I don't
>have to worry because I'm not really Hip Hop. I rap. I'm a rapper.
>There's a difference between rap and Hip Hop. I guess Hip Hop is
>gonna die but rap is gonna go on forever! He didn't trademark the
>word Rap did he? "
>As far as I can tell the word rap is not trademarked. Nor can it be
>because of it's long standing everyday usage.
>We checked with famed NY copyright attorney Arnold Esquire Sullivan
>and he soberly explained that the new provisions that have been added
>does indeed give AMO Inc the right to trademark and collect a
>licensing fee for use of the word Hip Hop and any other coined
>'unique' phrase. If the word is made up or unique to the American
>lexicon then it can be trademarked and people will have to pay a fee
>if they wish to use it in any sort of business endeavor.
>Sullivan explained the new amendment went through around the same time
>they were crafting the Patriot Act. "It's a shame people went to
>sleep on this. I hate to say this but Negroes had better wake up and
>start smelling the coffee. These people in Washington are not
>playing".
>Sullivan concluded by noting that failure to comply with the new
>trademark laws can result in serious economic repercussions and a
>stiff 5 year prison sentence. He noted that the stiff prison sentence
>came after music industry executives and software companies lobbied
>congress for harsher penalties for bootleggers and other 'copyright'
>thieves'. "Unfortunately this new trademark law as it pertains to the
>phrase Hip Hop can potentially land people in jail if they try to make
>a profit off it', Sullivan noted.
>At the end of the press conference Gonahangya explained that he is
>currently in negotiations with a major broadcast company so that they
>will have the exclusive rights to the word 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya
>declined to name the outlet that he is dealing with, but he did note
>that should everything work out according to plan this media outlet
>has vast resources and will set up offices throughout the country and
>help determine which projects and products will be allowed to use the
>term 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya refused to say whether or not it would be
>an outlet like Clear Channel, Viacom or Emmis that would be
>determining who can or cannot use the word 'Hip Hop'. "It would be
>premature for me to give out that information", he said
>It is clear that big corporations and government lobbyist now own Hip Hop.
>Gonahangya also reiterated the fact that he is extending a month long
>grace period. He also used the occasion to pitch his new licensing
>service. In what appeared to be a real cheesy move he stated that he
>was offering a one time discount for the next two weeks. He explained
>that he understands that there are a lot of non-profits that use the
>phrase Hip Hop in literature and other marketing schemes and as a
>result they will be granted a one time 500 dollar processing fee and
>will subjected to the similar constraints of their 501 non profit
>status. That means they can not use Hip Hop as a political marketing arm.
>Non political Independent record labels and artist can obtain a
>lifetime license to use the word Hip Hop for 500 dollars. Gonahangya
>explained that he believes in doing things for the community and this
>is his way of giving back.
>"Let it not be said I don't care for the underdog", he said. AMO Inc
>is all about helping the downtrodden. We normally charge on average
>of 5000 thousand plus lifetime residual fees, but because we care
>about the little people we will offer Hip Hop [TM] for 500 dollars
>licensing fee for the next two weeks.
>If anyone wishes to fill out an application to see if you qualify to
>use the term 'Hip Hop' in your product or if you want more information
>on AMO Inc call them at 1-800-233-4560
>or Go to their webpage.
>http://pub12.ezboard.com/fpoliticalpalacefrm14.showMessage?topicID=3.topic
>or drop me a line at misterdaveyd@earthlink.net
This has got to be the most outrageous, greedy,& selfish act I have ever heard off
PASS THIS SHIT ON....Don't forget to peep out the link at the bottom..!! Let em know what you think!!
>WHO REALLY OWNS HIP HOP?
>USE THE TERM 'HIP HOP' &PAY A LICENSING FEE
>by Davey D
>It looks like the Hip Hop community now faces its biggest challenge.
>Forget police task forces or discriminating night club owners, folks
>will now have to gear up to do some serious battle with a Los Angeles
>businessman named Richard Gonahangya and his company America Media
>Operative Inc. For those who don't know AMO Inc is a little known
>company that specializes in lobbying Congress and advising government
>officials on media policy. They yield a lot of influence over the FCC
>and other agencies that determine policy. The word around town is
>'what they say goes'.
>Gonahangya a staunch conservative, held a small press conference in
>Compton, Ca yesterday to announce that his company AMO Inc had
>recently trademarked and bought the rights to the word/phrase 'Hip
>Hop'. As a result they will soon start charging a licensing fee for
>anyone who wishes to use the word in a commercial/ for profit project.
>Taking advantage of a provision in the recently amended Millennium
>Copyright Act of 2001, Gonahangya explained that he and his company
>have all the legal ammunition and clearance to own the rights to the
>phrase 'Hip Hop'. He noted that the Hip Hop industry has generated
>over 20 billion dollars last year in the United States alone. The
>phrase Hip Hop is now a powerful marketing tool and his company is
>posed to profit handsomely in 2003 from its 'proper' usage. The new
>licensing fee is estimated to net AMO Inc a whooping 5-8 billion
>dollars a year.
>"Any business including record labels, videos, radio stations or
>television shows that use the phrase 'Hip Hop' in the title or
>marketing body of their work will have to pay AMO Inc a licensing
>fee", Gonahangya told reporters. 'We are not attempting to stifle
>free speech or muzzle popular culture.. we have no legal grounds from
>preventing anyone who wishes to use the word in everyday speech,
>however if you are using the word in a manner that associates you with
>a salable product, then we fully intend to collect our fee".
>Gonahangya went on to explain that what he is doing is not unusual.
>There are many popular words that are used in everyday conversations
>that are trademarked and cannot be used in commercial ventures without
>permission. 'The word 'Xerox' is often used interchangeably with
>'copy'. The word 'Vaseline' is used interchangeably with lotion or
>grease. he also explained that the word Rock-N-Roll is trademarked by
>a major label record executive who at the time could not charge a
>licensing fee.
>Gonahangya laid out his company's strategy for 2003. He explained
>that AMO Inc is giving record labels and performers a one month grace
>period to get their business affairs in order. Starting in May
>letters will be sent out to anyone who is using the term 'Hip Hop'
>explaining that the word is now trademarked and that if they wish to
>continue to use it in the body of their work, they will have to
>register with his company and be assessed a licensing fee. Letters
>have already been sent to several Hip Hop internet websites with more
>to come. He estimated the average fee will be anywhere from 2-5
>thousand dollars plus residual fees per project. Permission to use
>the word will be on a case by case basis. In addition any future
>projects released using the term ' Hip Hop' will have to have the 'TM'
>symbol next to the word.
>When asked if he felt AMO Inc was being exploitative and attempting to
>blackmail a viable popular culture, Gonahangya bluntly stated; 'This
>is not about culture. This is about business... The laws have been
>set up for anyone and everyone to use. Our company took advantage of
>what was on the books for almost a year and that what we are doing is
>now perfectly legal... Hip Hop is a big multi-billion dollar a year
>business. I was surprised that a big executive like Russell Simmons
>or Clive Davis or even business savy rappers like Jay-Z, P-Diddy or
>Eminem never trademarked the phrase. Everyone in America knows that
>you don't do business without protecting your assets. It's just plain
>stupid not to leave yourself this wide open.. If the Hip Hop
>community is that dumb when it comes to business then too bad. Don't
>make me out to be the bad guy".
>When asked if he intends to share any of the profits from licensing
>the word 'Hip Hop' with any of Hip Hop's pioneers including Lovebug
>Starski who first coined the phrase back in the lates 70s or Afrika
>Bambaataa who popularized and spread the word, Gonahangya laughed. 'I
>never heard of a Mr Starski and as for sharing profits with people
>from Africa..No my people are originally from Denmark, Norway.
>When another reporter told Gonahangya that Afrika Bambaataa was
>someone's name, Gonahangya shrugged it off and said he had no
>intentions of sharing the profits with anyone but his company and his
>family." However, he did offer a discounted licensing fee for Starski
>and Bambaataa since they coined and helped popularized the term.
>When asked if there would be any sort of criteria set up to determine
>who will and will not be allowed to use the phrase 'Hip Hop',
>Gonahangya explained that for most part if a company has the money and
>a viable revenue stream for residual payments then it should be a
>'piece of cake'. As for criteria, Gonahangya explained that he has
>very little tolerance and respect for individuals and companies that
>are attempting to use the phrase Hip Hop for political gain.
>"Recently the term 'Hip Hop' has been positioned as a
>progressive/liberal movement. That's unfair and a totally one-sided
>approach to what is an American institution.Hip Hop is for everyone
>It is not a slick political campaign tool for Jesse Jackson, Al
>Sharpton or Hillary Clinton.", he retorted
>Gonahangya became evasive when asked if he would allow the term Hip
>Hop to be used by any of the conservative organizations that he
>regularly associates with and lobbies for. " To be honest we have not
>ruled them out. We believe that Hip Hop needs to be politically
>balanced. For years Hip Hop has been associated with liberal causes
>that have totally undermined the moral fiber of this country. We will
>be very selective as to how Hip Hop will be used politically", he said
>Gonahangya continued; "I will assure you this... In the future you
>will not be seeing billboards or magazine ads with the words 'Hip Hop'
>and Reparations, 'Hip Hop' and Affirmative Action or even 'Hip Hop'
>and Black Power anytime soon. If it hasn't come through our offices
>and been granted a licensing fee then its existence will be in
>violation of the Millennium Copyright Act of 2001 and we intend to
>aggressively go after any violators and prosecute. This about
>political integrity and money".
>Some our speculating that Gonahangya intends to use his ownership of
>the now trademarked term 'Hip Hop' to quiet down any sort of political
>movement that has been organizing around the term in time for the 2004
>elections.
>We caught up with Greg Watkins webmaster of the popular site
>allhiphop.com and he noted that he had received a letter from
>Gonahangya's AMO Inc company earlier this month. "He told us in the
>letter that we were in violation of his this trademark law and that me
>and my partner Chuck would have to pay licensing fee if we wanted to
>keep the word 'Hip Hop in our name. We checked with our lawyers and
>found out that we were safe because we are allhiphop and not just 'hip
>hop'. It's obvious these guys are serious about collecting their
>money".
>We caught up with long time Bay Area writer and Hip Hop deejay Billy
>Jam who does the Hip Hop Slam radio show and has the website Hip Hop
>Slam. "Yeah this attorney contacted my attorney and said I would have
>to take the 'Hip Hop' out of Hip Hop Slam or pay a fee if I want to
>continue doing business. At first I thought it was a joke and then
>days later I received a subpoena to show up in court. I was told if I
>don't remove the word Hip Hop from Hip Hop Slam or pay a licensing fee
>then I could lose my house, my car and my prized record collection".
>Normally I don't give a damn about such things, but I can't afford to
>lose my records", Billy Jam said
>We caught up with popular Bay Area rapper /writer JR The Rap Slanger
>out of East Oakland. He said: " Look man, this country's always been
>about business and fools is gonna try and collect their paper. But
>this is straight up bullS%$T. How's this fool gonna try and trademark
>a word and collect a fee? Brothas need to rise up and retaliate and
>put a foot in his ass. But let's be honest, me personally I don't
>have to worry because I'm not really Hip Hop. I rap. I'm a rapper.
>There's a difference between rap and Hip Hop. I guess Hip Hop is
>gonna die but rap is gonna go on forever! He didn't trademark the
>word Rap did he? "
>As far as I can tell the word rap is not trademarked. Nor can it be
>because of it's long standing everyday usage.
>We checked with famed NY copyright attorney Arnold Esquire Sullivan
>and he soberly explained that the new provisions that have been added
>does indeed give AMO Inc the right to trademark and collect a
>licensing fee for use of the word Hip Hop and any other coined
>'unique' phrase. If the word is made up or unique to the American
>lexicon then it can be trademarked and people will have to pay a fee
>if they wish to use it in any sort of business endeavor.
>Sullivan explained the new amendment went through around the same time
>they were crafting the Patriot Act. "It's a shame people went to
>sleep on this. I hate to say this but Negroes had better wake up and
>start smelling the coffee. These people in Washington are not
>playing".
>Sullivan concluded by noting that failure to comply with the new
>trademark laws can result in serious economic repercussions and a
>stiff 5 year prison sentence. He noted that the stiff prison sentence
>came after music industry executives and software companies lobbied
>congress for harsher penalties for bootleggers and other 'copyright'
>thieves'. "Unfortunately this new trademark law as it pertains to the
>phrase Hip Hop can potentially land people in jail if they try to make
>a profit off it', Sullivan noted.
>At the end of the press conference Gonahangya explained that he is
>currently in negotiations with a major broadcast company so that they
>will have the exclusive rights to the word 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya
>declined to name the outlet that he is dealing with, but he did note
>that should everything work out according to plan this media outlet
>has vast resources and will set up offices throughout the country and
>help determine which projects and products will be allowed to use the
>term 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya refused to say whether or not it would be
>an outlet like Clear Channel, Viacom or Emmis that would be
>determining who can or cannot use the word 'Hip Hop'. "It would be
>premature for me to give out that information", he said
>It is clear that big corporations and government lobbyist now own Hip Hop.
>Gonahangya also reiterated the fact that he is extending a month long
>grace period. He also used the occasion to pitch his new licensing
>service. In what appeared to be a real cheesy move he stated that he
>was offering a one time discount for the next two weeks. He explained
>that he understands that there are a lot of non-profits that use the
>phrase Hip Hop in literature and other marketing schemes and as a
>result they will be granted a one time 500 dollar processing fee and
>will subjected to the similar constraints of their 501 non profit
>status. That means they can not use Hip Hop as a political marketing arm.
>Non political Independent record labels and artist can obtain a
>lifetime license to use the word Hip Hop for 500 dollars. Gonahangya
>explained that he believes in doing things for the community and this
>is his way of giving back.
>"Let it not be said I don't care for the underdog", he said. AMO Inc
>is all about helping the downtrodden. We normally charge on average
>of 5000 thousand plus lifetime residual fees, but because we care
>about the little people we will offer Hip Hop [TM] for 500 dollars
>licensing fee for the next two weeks.
>If anyone wishes to fill out an application to see if you qualify to
>use the term 'Hip Hop' in your product or if you want more information
>on AMO Inc call them at 1-800-233-4560
>or Go to their webpage.
>http://pub12.ezboard.com/fpoliticalpalacefrm14.showMessage?topicID=3.topic
>or drop me a line at misterdaveyd@earthlink.net