Katonah, N.Y., residents not thrilled by name use
By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, January 28, 2007
Katonah, N.Y. — In December, almost by accident, William O'Neill found out that perhaps this hamlet's most famous resident — lifestyle guru Martha Stewart — wanted the rights to its name.
"It didn't occur to us that you could trademark the name of our town, that you could come in and be a relatively new member of the community and take the name of the town for your use," said O'Neill, a 10-year resident and co-president of the Katonah Village Improvement Society.
Stewart filed six trademark applications in October 2005. O'Neill said a town attorney read of the filing in a trademark publication in December 2006, near the end of a comment period. Local residents were granted a few months' extension to oppose the filing by Martha Stewart Omnimedia.
The company dropped applications for some products, concerning mostly flooring, rugs and wallpaper uses, but still is seeking to trademark "Katonah" for paints, lighting, closet organizer kits and window accessories and furniture.
The trademark application would extend to Stewart's Katonah brand from Bernhardt Furniture, said Diana Pearson, a spokeswoman for the Martha Stewart Omnimedia.
Pearson said use of the name is in tribute to the region.
"Martha Stewart's homes and surroundings serve as inspiration for many of our products, including Martha Stewart furniture with Bernhardt. In naming a particular line for Katonah we are paying homage to this beautiful region," Pearson said.
Bernhardt officials could not be reached for comment.
O'Neill said some residents worry that Stewart could enforce trademark rights against local businesses or public service agencies or prevent new businesses from using the name in association with products on which she has a trademark.
"Her company has said that this is an honor to Katonah. I haven't spoken to anyone in Katonah who feels honored by this. I don't feel honored by this," O'Neill said. "This town has a limited reputation; broad use of the name will overwhelm the reputation. This is a little Victorian town."
O'Neill said the residents plan to contact Stewart's company.
"The best resolution for us is if she decided to name her product line after something else," he said.
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