Talk:RLDS (disambiguation)

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[edit] RLDS is a registered trademark

The Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is the trademark holder for "RLDS" when used in connection with religious associations, (see USPTO and search on Trademarks). --Blainster 19:09, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

That trademark was registered July 26, 1971 - before many of the splits with the organizations listed on the disambig page. Each of those claims to be the successor to the 1860 RLDS church. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 207.160.205.13 (talk • contribs) 10:32, July 18, 2006 (UTC)

Ben McLean or Nerd42: You are free to claim what you wish, but you may not use the trademark in religious reference. The trademark is current and valid. If you persist in using the term "RLDS" in referring to any organization other than the Community of Christ, you are misusing the trademark. Please abide by the law. --Blainster 23:43, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Please do not make legal threats on Wikipedia. Clearly, the most common use of "RLDS" is to refer to the Community of Christ; however, Wikipedia must also respect the fact that the term is in common use to refer to other groups. Hence, I have redirected RLDS to Community of Christ, with an accompanying link to this disambiguation page to help readers searching for other groups with the initials RLDS. FCYTravis 01:22, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

As I understand the First Amendment, anyone is free to use anything they wish as a religious reference, at least nationally. For the national Congress to make any law to the contrary would be unconstitutional.

Your trademarks argument may hold some weight. However, while the Community of Christ may own the trademark on the RLDS name, (ownership which the Restoration Branches dispute) they do not own Wikipedia's page about it. There is a controversy here. --BenMcLean (talk)