Greetings folks - perhaps some of you have seen the rather vicious anti-Health Care ads being run on TV (I saw it on MSNBC of all places) by the seemingly innocuous group the US Citizens Association. The particular ad I saw was the one at the bottom of the page titled "Socialized Medicine." Amusingly, it has the Soviet National anthem playing as the background music of the ad.
As I could not believe the audacity of the ad, I did some quick Googling and, cousin, there is foulness in the air.
Courtesy of Desert Beacon we find that the USCA is registered to Una Lauricia, of Cleveland, Ohio with the address listed as 1801 East 9th Street Suite 1200 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 - the location of the law firm Pearne & Gordon LLP. They bill themselves as:
...one of the largest and oldest intellectual property law firms in Cleveland. The firm limits its practice to patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, and related intellectual property law matters.
With roots dating back to the 1910's, Pearne & Gordon has a long tradition of efficiently satisfying the intellectual property needs of its clients.
In patent matters, the firm has experience in all areas of technology, including electronics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, computers, software, biotechnology, polymers, nuclear science, and machine design.
Most curiously, the USCA has recently been involved in a lawsuit with the Better Government Association of Chicago over trademark infringement. Apparently the USCA used to be called the Better Government Association of Cleveland - until the BGAoChicago forced them to change their name in a lawsuit filed this month. As reported in the court papers, the attorney of the BGAoCleveland/USCA failed to show at court - perhaps suggesting (speculation here) that this is a short-term project at best.
I've since emailed Ms. Lauricia inquiring as to her firm's involvement with the USCA and its ads, copied the contents of the CC to the entire newsroom of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and MSNBC.
If I get any response, I'll let folks know.