Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” is a well known, highly advertised division of the electronics retailer that specializes in troubling issues with computers and other electronics devices. God Squad, on the other hand, is the name for a Catholic priest’s outreach efforts that just so happens to share a very similar logo design, and even the same Volkswagen Beetle .
Unfortunately for the priest, Reverend Luke Strand, Best Buy’s trademark attorney’s realize that they must pursue the God Squad as fervently as any other individual or organization that may infringe – on purpose or by accident – on key trademarked names or logos. U.S. trademark law states that if a company knowingly allows others to violate their trademark filings, over time they forfeit the right to lay claim to their trademarks.
As Fox 11 WJUK-TV points out, Rev. Luke Strand’s vehicle and logo use were a dead ringer for the Best Buy troubleshooting squad, and whether or not Best Buy truly wanted to pursue the holy man, they had no choice.
(More after video)
Best Buy sends a formal cease-and-desist letter
“He got a letter and his jaw dropped and he didn’t quite know what to do with it,” said Rev. Bob Stiefvater, who works at the same congregation as Strand. “He’s very aware that every company has to protect its trademark and that “Geek Squad” is a protected trademark.”
The congregation where Strand resides, Holy Family, says that Best Buy had no intention of pursuing the Reverend in regards to the name of God Squad, but they did take issue with the striking similarities in the logo design.
For now, Strand removed the logo, and after an outpouring of offers and support from the community to create a new logo, Strand plans to re-brand the Beetle in the future to keep God’s message flowing in the streets.
References
1.”God Squad’ catches geeks’…’ view
