Boston Strong: A Slogan, A Quagmire

Boston Strong, born of unity and fortitude post-Boston Marathon, went viral on Twitter, worldwide. Three Emerson College students - Christopher Dobens, Nicholas Reynolds, Lane Brenner – kicked off a T-shirt crusade. The slogan spread onto T-shirts, the 'Green Monster' wall at Fenway Park, and multitudes of merchandise. Even the Boston Bruins donned it on their helmets. But as Boston Strong grew popular, two unknown entities filed separate requests to the U.S.

Trademark Office, aiming to claim ownership for commercial use. One applicant openly yearned to restrict outsiders from profiting from the slogan. A trademark attorney, quoted in The Huffington Post, forecasted the government office would dismiss these registrations due to the slogan's public domain status and its inability to associate with a particular entity. Yet, countless items continue to flaunt Boston Strong, and the city remains a testament to strength and unity.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons