President
Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc.
ceo@solarattic.com
763-441-3440
Executive Director
Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc.
kathy@mn-entrepreneurs.org
651-687-0840
Media Relations Contact
EntrepreneursForHire, LLC
eric@entrepreneursforhire.com
612-374-0004
LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE WORD “ENTREPRENEUR”
Monopolizing Word “Entrepreneur”
Inc., a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation representing Minnesota’s
entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, announced today that it has
executed an amicus currie letter in support of BizStarz, Inc.’s legal battle
against Entrepreneur Media, publisher of Entrepreneur magazine.
use of the word ‘entrepreneur’, has taken on more than a dozen
companies and web sites, including a Sacramento, CA public relations
firm formerly known as EntrepreneurPR. The company, since renamed
BizStarz, has mounted its own offensive against the publication’s
demands by appealing the $337,280 judgment. The case is currently
pending in the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
1852 and generally means any individual who starts a business.
Entrepreneur Media trademarked the word in 1982, shortly after
Minnesota Entrepreneurs’ predecessor was founded (in 1981) as The
Minnesota Entrepreneurs’ Club. “I am appalled that Entrepreneur Media
would attempt to prohibit others from using the word ‘entrepreneur’,”
says Ed Palmer, president of Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc.
Twin Cities area resident Peter Hupalo, author of Thinking Like An
Entrepreneurand founder of the business book review website
says Hupalo. “Entrepreneurs face many challenges from acquiring
financing to deciding on a business model to attracting customers. Now,
entrepreneurs who start a company and who choose to use the word
‘entrepreneur’ in their name might have one more challenge - defending
their right to use the word ‘entrepreneur’.”
Media's corporate legal counsel expressing interest in the domain name
EntrepreneurBooks.com, Hupalo assumed Entrepreneur Media was
interested in buying his domain name. "Make me an offer," said Hupalo,
who hadn't contemplated selling EntrepreneurBooks.com. "One Dollar,"
came the reply. "Oh, and we'll throw in that we won't sue you." Although
the Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc. hasn’t been threatened with any legal
action over its name, the group believes it’s important to raise
awareness of issues affecting all small businesses.
support of BizStarz’s appeal is second only to the support shown by
California groups. To date, BizStarz has received letters of support from
dozens of organizations, including the Canadian Federation of
Independent Business (CFIB), the California Small Business Association
(CSBA), the National Business Incubation Association, and the
Collegiate Entrepreneurs Club, among others.
use of the word ‘entrepreneur’ can be found online at
http://www.entrepreneurs.com/free2.html.
Entrepreneurs' Club) has been educating, inspiring and acting as a
resource for Minnesota’s entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. The
Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc., a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation, has a
rich history of shaping tomorrow’s leaders and inspiring entrepreneurs.
For more information on the Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc., log onto
www.mn-entrepreneurs.org.
