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Town's Tussle Over Trademark Intensifies

Martha's neighbors like the name Katonah, want to keep it

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 5, 2007 12:02 PM CDT

(Newser) – Katonah, NY, doesn't appear to need pro bono legal assistance. The average home price tops $900,000, and the leafy New York suburb is so desirable that Martha Stewart calls it home. That's where the trouble started: Stewart wants to trademark the town’s name for a home-decor line, and Katonah says that's not a good thing. Business Week takes a look.

Villagers object not to the use of the name but to the trademarking, which could limit future use by locals. The Katonah Village Improvement Society's "Nobody Owns Katonah" campaign has drawn support from people around the country, including descendants of Chief Katonah, the village’s Native American namesake, and the law firm that volunteered to press the village's case.

Martha Stewart poses in the Katonah model home at the unveiling of her new concept in homebuilding and design Hampton Oaks subdivision outside of Fairburn, Ga., on July 25, 2006. A group of Stewart's... (Associated Press)

Downtown Katonah ((c) d&e)

Katonah Village Library ((c) d&e)

Martha Stewart arrives for the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity Award Dinner, Sunday, May 20, 2007, in New York. "The Humanitarian Award" was presented at the gala to Oprah Winfrey, (AP Photo/ Louis... (Associated Press)

Martha Stewart arrives at the Time 100 gala, Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at the Time Warner Center in New York. The gala was to celebrate Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.(AP Photo/Stephen... (Associated Press)

Martha Stewart attends the showing of the Chado Ralph Rucci fall 2007 collection, Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, on the last day of Fashion Week in New York. Martha Stewart, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia... (Associated Press)

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Town's Tussle Over Trademark Intensifies

Martha's neighbors like the name Katonah, want to keep it

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