Idaho Lawmaker Files Trademark for Logo in Latest Dispute, Legal Action Possible
By Greg Pruett • August 2, 2024Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard) has filed a trademark claim with the Idaho Secretary of State’s office for a logo currently used by the Idaho Freedom Caucus, but the State Freedom Caucus Network disputes Scott’s ownership of the logo.
The SFCN, a nationwide 501 c(4) non-profit based in Washington D.C., claimed ownership of the logo in a previous statement to Idaho Dispatch. The organization denounced Scott and two other lawmakers in a statement to the Idaho Dispatch and said their attorneys would handle the matter as both sides claim ownership of the name “Idaho Freedom Caucus” and the logo.
Idaho Dispatch obtained two documents (shown at the end of this article) from the Secretary of State’s Office showing the trademark filing and approval.
The first document contains the application received by the SOS office and stamped on June 26, 2024. Scott’s name appears at the bottom of the first page.
On the form is a section titled “Dates First Used.”
The document asks applications to include the first time the logo was used in Idaho and the first time it was used “elsewhere.” The date posted for both sections is June 26, 2024.
However, according to our research, the logo was first used in Idaho on January 3, 2023. The image below is from the IDFC’s Facebook page, which shows the date the logo was uploaded as the “profile picture.
Idaho Dispatch asked Scott why an earlier date for “use” in Idaho was not used. Scott did not reply to our request for comment.
The document filed with the SOS office also asks applicants to describe the logo and provide a copy of its appearance. Scott provided the logo above in her trademark application.
In our previous article, Andy Roth, President of the SFCN, told Idaho Dispatch that the logo above is used in all states under the SFCN brand. Every state (11 in total) uses the same logo with the state name swapped out.
Regarding the state logo designs used nationwide, Georgia was the first state chapter to launch under the SFCN brand. As mentioned in our previous article, several Idaho lawmakers, including Scott, went to Georgia for the launch of the Georgia Freedom Caucus Network. Georgia’s “Freedom Caucus” logo use, at least on Facebook, began on January 24, 2022.
Idaho Dispatch asked Roth, for this article, to see if he had any comment regarding Scott filing a trademark in Idaho for the IDFC logo, which he says is part of the national network’s brand. Roth told us that his answer remains the same as before,
“Our lawyers will be handling this.”
Idaho Dispatch also asked Roth if he knew when the first usage of the national logo was and who created the national brand logo. Roth did not return our request for comment on that particular question.
Idaho Dispatch’s research shows that the SFCN national brand logo was used as early as June 13, 2022. The logo was uploaded to the organization’s Facebook page approximately six months after the group was formally created and the Facebook page first appeared.
Idaho Dispatch asked Scott if she believed the Idaho Freedom Caucus logo was not part of the SFCN brand and if she knew who created the logo. Scott did not return our request for comment.
Finally, Idaho Dispatch contacted the Idaho SOS office to ask about the trademark process.
The SOS office told Idaho Dispatch that the “first use” of the logo is whatever the applicant puts on the application. They do not see if the applicant used the logo first somewhere else. The SOS office also said they do not try to see if there are any disputes over a trademark request before approval.
If a dispute arises over logo ownership, a civil court proceeding would be necessary to settle the dispute. According to Idaho code 48-511, the prevailing party will be awarded damages if a fraudulent trademark is found to have been knowingly filed.
Who do you believe the IDFC logo belongs to? Let us know in the comments below.
Tags: Andy Roth, Heather Scott, Idaho Freedom Caucus, Idaho Secretary of State, Logo, State Freedom Caucus Network, Trademark
9 thoughts on “Idaho Lawmaker Files Trademark for Logo in Latest Dispute, Legal Action Possible”
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I’m waiting for Brian Lenney and all his aliases to weigh in.
Real hard hitting story (yawn)
Wow. What is going on at Idaho Dispatch? Does this guy have something against Heather Scott?
Heather is a brilliant mind and the only true conservative in the Legislature. Literally the only person fight against cannibalism for the people.
This publication needs to stop picking on Idaho’s best lawmaker.
Heather has realized that divide and conquer is not going to help Idahoans or Americans. So when there is room for intelligent compromise, she’ll make it. Because she dared work with Mike Moyle last session, she’s now branded a traitor by the Dispatch.
I’m not saying to compromise on the uncompromising values, but a wise old saying says pick your battles. The modern day conservative can’t seem to figure that out.
So Glenneda left YAL Hazlitt Committee (bc of the atrocity they did to Julianne Young), then she left IFC, then she aired all their dirty laundry in an emo substack, then she accepted a free trip to Florida from YAL and is presumably resigning up for their next Idaho astroturf push? Someone who talks about principles a lot is sure abandoning hers at bullet speeds.
Ho Brian!
Grow up. Keep your DC swamp crap out of our state.
Could you inform us of what is this fracturing all about?
Thank you Idaho Dispatch for your unbiased coverage of reporting the facts. I wish I understood why fighting over a group’s ownership is unifying or good for anyone. All I want as John Q Public is to have our best liberty legislators working together; and exposing moderates is part of it. Compromise is misleading when all I get to see is the outside.