Well over a year ago, Gordon Gebert let me in on a secret he had been brainstorming on. His premise was brilliant. He came up with the fantastic programming idea to do a reality show "Occupy vs Tea Party" in a house (a la MTV) with #occupy dregs and tea party patriots living (or dying) together.
Great, right? Gebert has been pitching this idea for months. Whenever I would see him, whether at CPAC or BlogCon or FOA, he was working the project. I tried to put him on to people that might be able to advance, contribute or support the project. He worked that baby like a mad dog.
So imagine my surprise when I heard that the notorious opportunist, former Delaware Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell, was trying to lift the idea and sell it as her own. Serious theft. This gave life to all those scam stories about her. So this is not altogether shocking. Back in 2012, I blogged on O'Donnell's cowardice and lack of character. But this is lower than that.
Christine O’Donnell issued a press release which was picked up by ABC News, Yahoo News, DailyKos, etc., announcing "Christine O’Donnell will be hosting an "Occupy vs. Tea Party" debate during her Troublemaker Fest at Channelside Cinemas, a short block away from the Republican National Convention being held that same week.
Adding insult to injury, O'Donnell has reportedly entered into an agreement with Al Gore's Current TV to produce the vehicle. Gore and O'Donnell, two of a piece it seems.
O'Donnell is a thief. And not a smart one (they never are). So many of us have been around Gordon during the planning and organizing of Tea vs. Occupy. She could never pull this off.
On Thursday evening, O’Donnell was subsequently advised by Gordon Gebert in a conference call with Steve Lang of Young Turks, Current TV that they could not use the Tea Party vs Occupy or the Occupy vs Tea Party name because both are trademarked and copyrighted by Gordon G.G. Gebert, creator of the reality TV Show of the same name.
Stacy McCain opines, "This is either (a) a serious trademark infringement or (b) a generous gesture of free publicity: We told you last month about Gordon Gebert’s proposed “Occupy vs. Tea Party” reality-TV show. A few days ago, I learned that Gordon got the funding to make it happen, and will begin with a debate at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
According to Mr. Gebert, his attorneys will file the necessary documents to obtain a restraining order prohibiting O’Donnell from proceeding with the unauthorized use of his trademark brand to promote her event. I would be happy to testify for Mr. Gebert. I have long suffered through the planning and organizational process of Occupy vs. Tea Party.
There's more here:
During the Thursday conference call O’Donnell was attempting to reach a broadcasting deal with The Young Turks while representing that she was the creator and owner of the trademark. Despite repeatedly being told by the Trademark & Copyright owner she could not use his brand in her Tampa event, O’Donnell decided she wanted to take her chances in litigation and told Gebert, “sue me.” According to spokesperson for Mr. Gebert after becoming aware of O’Donnell’s press release by email which was picked up by ABC News, Yahoo News, Huffington Post, and others; Attorney’s for Mr. Gebert will file the necessary documents to obtain a restraining order prohibiting O’Donnell from proceeding with the unauthorized use of his trademark brand to promote her event.
From: Gordon G.G. Gebert <gordongebert2001@yahoo.com>
To: “annette@troublemakermedia.org” <annette@troublemakermedia.org>; Rachel Torres <rachel.v.torres@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 10:41 PM
Subject: Cease and desist any and all branding, titling, presentation, television – Chuck Woolery will not be hosting your showCease and desist any and all branding, titling, presentation, internet, television broadcast of “Occupy vs. Tea Party” or “Tea Party vs. Occupy”
Cease and desist any advertising, promotion, representation, attachment of Chuck Woolery to your event.
Chuck Woolery will not be hosting any illegal presentation, debate, or facsimile of “Occupy vs. Tea Party”
Thank you,
Gordon G.G. Gebert
Despite the fact that Rachel Torres acknowledged receipt of the above email, it has been learned that O’Donnell’s website promoting her Tampa “Troublemaker fest” continues to falsely promote the involvement of Television Personality Chuck Woolery, who is the Host of Gebert’s Occupy vs Tea Party production not O’Donnell’s false advertising of Troublemaker Fest. In fact Sinclair News can report that Woolery nor his representatives have ever participated in any conversations with O’Donnell or her backers to even discuss his involvement in O’Donnell’s planned Tampa event. Mr. Woolery was willing to host the Gebert version which O’Donnell reps had originally asked Gebert to produce. It was only after O’Donnell learned of Geberts securing such political personalities as former Dem Congressman Alan Grayson that O’Donnell demand she be the Host with Chuck Woolery and that she be headlined to debate Alan Grayson herself.
Below is the United States Patent and Trademark Office registration certification granted Gordon Gebert on April 9, 2012 after the original filing for Trademark in November 2011.
| Word Mark | OCCUPY VS. TEA PARTY |
| Goods and Services | IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment, namely, a continuing reality show broadcast over television |
| Standard Characters Claimed | |
| Mark Drawing Code | (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK |
| Serial Number | 85592975 |
| Filing Date | April 9, 2012 |
| Current Basis | 1B |
| Original Filing Basis | 1B |
| Owner | (APPLICANT) Gebert, Gordon INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES #350 65 Fleetwood Ave Mount Vernon NEW YORK 105520350 |
| Type of Mark | SERVICE MARK |
| Register | PRINCIPAL |
| Live/Dead Indicator | LIVE |
In addition to the above Trademark certification Gebert has the Occupy vs Tea Party/Tea Party vs Occupy brand and concept copyrighted and registered with The Writers Guild of America East which has been so registered since February 23, 2012 and is protected through February 23, 2022. Click on the below image to view in full screen mode.
It has become clear that O’Donnell is attempting to drum up publicity for her book which is interestingly enough titled Trouble Maker, while hoping that the deep pockets of Al Gore’s Current TV and MacMillan Publishing will hold off any litigation from Gebert until after she has pulled off her stolen show for personal profit. Sinclair News has confirmed that Counsel for Gordon G.G. Gebert has served on Christine O’Donnell, Trouble Maker Media dot Org, Troublemaker fest , Current TV and Current TV’s The Young Turks formal Cease and Desist notice which will be followed by request for Temporary Restraining Orders preventing O’Donnell from using Gebert’s brand.
Sinclair News offered Christine O’Donnell, Rachel Torres, Matthew Purdie the opportunity to answer our questions but instead O’Donnell has decided she can continue to move forward with her unauthorized use of Mr. Geberts brand. Sinclair News has to ask two questions of those who take pride in calling themselves Tea Party members:
1. Do you and or the TEA Party believe it is okay for another person to take something that does not belong to them and misrepresent it for personal profit and gain?
2. IS the TEA Party okay with climbing in bed with the likes of Al Gore & Current TV for the purpose of making Christine O’Donnell money?
Clearly in the case of Christine O’Donnell, Matthew Purdie and Rachel Torres, Steve Lange, The Young Turks, Al Gore & Current TV, they wholeheartedly believe in Obama’s: You didn’t build that, someone else made that happen motto!
O'Donnell may not be a witch, but she sure is a thief.
