digg

Facebook Connect Join Digg About
See the original image at zenhabits.net

The Privatization of the English Language

zenhabits.net — Today I received an email from the lawyers of author Susan Jeffers, PhD., notifying me that I’d infringed on her trademark by using the phrase “feel the fear and do it anyway” in a blog post. The phrase, apparently, is the title of one of her books … a book I’d never heard of. I find it unbelievable that a common phrase can be trademarked.

Who dugg this? Made popular Apr 27, 2009

Digg DudeWhat is Digg?

Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. Digg surfaces the best stuff as submitted and voted on by the community. Take the Tour to learn more.

544 Comments

show profanity settings
expand all
  • ialan2, on 04/27/2009, -6/+675This is why patents, copyrights, trademarks and all of that needs to be reformed - to stop abuses like this.
  • Darkhacker, on 04/27/2009, -0/+384When it comes to deciding whether or not you should continue to use the phrase after receiving a warning from the author's lawyers, one should feel the fear and do it anyway.
  • amabaie, on 04/27/2009, -6/+263She should have thanked him for helping her spread the message, and in so doing given herself some positive publicity instead of pissing everybody off (and I can't see her possibly winning such legal action).
  • rolf, on 04/27/2009, -1/+247Go to amazon, and give her book a 1 star review. That impact in sales should offset any publicity.

    http://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Anyway-Susan-Jeffe ...
  • CaptainNoPants, on 04/27/2009, -2/+210This lady is crazy.

    http://www.susanjeffers.com/home/contact.cfm

    "Permissions
    The phrase, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway®, is Susan's registered trademark. If you wish to use this phrase for any purpose whatsoever, you are legally required to seek permission from Susan. You can do so by contacting admin@susanjeffers.com."
  • MarianaPeyton, on 04/27/2009, -9/+187I kinda feel sad digging this story because this bitch's book will get attention, but Leo is a genious writer and makes a great point. These lawyers doesn't make a ***** sense. BTW, I actually have a book named "Hello, how are you?".
  • MediaCrisis, on 04/27/2009, -1/+174her.. entire website... comic sans ms... *dies*
  • tito13kfm, on 04/27/2009, -1/+146I am hereby requesting permission to use the phrase "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" in a blog post titled "Overzealous lawyers and the bitches they represent".

    I thank you for your time and understanding.
    Tim Kurash

    That was my email to her. I wonder if she'll grant permission.
  • Trollbane, on 04/27/2009, -0/+139I'm sorry, but I own the copyrights to the phrase "The Privatization of the English Language". Please either place a (R) at the end of your post or remove it entirely.
  • V0rt, on 04/27/2009, -2/+140http://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Do-Anyway/dp/03454 ...

    Link to book, I'm sure you guys know what to do =p
  • IcyWings8, on 04/27/2009, -3/+128I hope this does not end up giving the author more publicity.
  • GodAImighty, on 04/27/2009, -2/+118http://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Anyway-Susan-Jeffe ...

    Just write terrible reviews for the book

    Internet vigilantism to the rescue!
  • inactive, on 04/27/2009, -0/+109wow that website is an eye ***** for sure.
  • Insightful, on 04/27/2009, -0/+102One word: unenforceable

    The trademark on the book is valid but is not enforceable when it comes to use of that phrase in every day speeches. If Jeffers should litigate, I am sure she will lose the case.

    I'd say feel the fear and do it anyways.

    Go ahead, Jeffers, have your lawyer issue a subpoena to Digg to disclose my identity so you can sue me! I dare you.
  • pappyblueribs, on 04/27/2009, -0/+101I own the phrase "This is the registered trademark of". I'll sue Susan Jeffers for ya.
  • AmazingSteve, on 04/27/2009, -1/+96Not very bright for a PhD is she?
  • LaniPuppetmaker, on 04/27/2009, -1/+93I think we should all "feel the fear and do it anyway" on as many blogs, twitters, digs, etc. etc. as possible!
  • cl2yp71c, on 04/27/2009, -0/+91***** it.
    Countersue her for using your breathing pattern.
  • Probatus, on 04/27/2009, -0/+85I would like to use this phrase to tell my friend John Smith about this story.
    10 minutes later.
    I would like to use this phrase to tell my friend Bob Wilson about this story.
    10 minutes later.
    I would like to use this phrase to tell my friend John Johnson about this story.
    10 minutes later.
    When I was telling my friend John Johnson about this story, a stranger walked by and they heard it too. Could you please grant me retroactive permission for telling that stranger about it? I realize that it wasn't in my earlier request. But will try to be more careful next time.

    Maybe if she gets a mailbox full of these everyday she will consider being less of an idiot.
  • akchrs, on 04/27/2009, -5/+84feel the fear and do it anyway
  • smallpoet, on 04/27/2009, -1/+77Wow. Lawyers sending cease and desist letters to a guy who blogs about inner peace and harmony. Classy. And a really bad marketing move, to boot.

    Susan Jeffers, PhD: this thing called the internet is pretty neat. We can do things like review your books on Amazon with one click, or email articles like this one to other really popular influential blogs. If I were Susan, I'd be appalled when I found out what my lawyers were doing to "protect" my best interests and issue a quick apology.

    Also willing to donate to the legal fund, should it come to it.
  • inactive, on 04/27/2009, -0/+69I have a feeling a lot of people will be contacting her about the phrase in the next few hours.
  • robbob, on 04/27/2009, -0/+66ignore the TM and "Just Do It"
  • frenchdiggler, on 04/27/2009, -0/+63Iowa Professor Kembrew Mcloud tried to trademark the phrase "Freedom of Expression" as a joke, and he got the trademark! He wrote a book about this copyright crazies called Freedom Of Expression. I love it!
  • byukate, on 04/27/2009, -2/+63They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, but in this case I'm not worried. I don't think any digg users will think, "Wow, this lady is a total bitch, but her book is so damn intriguing-I need it!"
  • mattassin, on 04/27/2009, -0/+61Comic Sans walks into a bar, bartender says, 'We don't serve your type.'
  • brentologist, on 04/27/2009, -0/+58..Internet justice... We can serve it...
  • Rain12913, on 04/27/2009, -1/+58I don't think you have to worry about anyone stealing that one.
  • mklopez, on 04/27/2009, -2/+57I think I've used that phrase before in writing. Should I write you a check already?
  • ZenDoc, on 04/27/2009, -0/+52It's an interesting story. Why would Dr. Susan Jeffers have her attorneys so closely scouring the Internet looking for any incidences of someone saying "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" - I suppose it's all done by bots and it sets off alarms in her house or that of her attorneys. Someone else on Twitter said that Leo is not the first person to get one of these "cease and desist" notices - there have been other complaints about her heavy-handed tactics. I'm almost positive that Dr. Jeffers was not the originator of that phrase, but she did popularize it. I know that it's been around longer than 21 or 22 years, since her book came out.

    She probably heard it from someone else and decided to make it the title of her book. The same theme has certainly been around for centuries. I think the fact that she felt the necessity to trademark the phrase required a lot of nerve on her part, and because she's gotten away with it and no one's challenged her, now she has the LAW on her side, and she can start meting out justice her way. It's really pretty sad. She obviously hasn't been challenged on this issue enough. I think that we all need to challenge her and blog about "Feeling the Fear and Doing it Anyway" and use it as a Twitter rally-cry for FREE SPEECH.
    David M. Brown aka ZenDoc @ZenDoc and also @EarthDay09 on Twitter
  • 1n3br14t3d, on 04/27/2009, -0/+52As silly as the "Birthday" song IMO.
  • MrOsis, on 04/27/2009, -0/+51There's already 2 full pages of 1 star reviews....in one day!!
    I have a feeling Susan Jeffer's is really going to regret this move
  • mklopez, on 04/27/2009, -0/+50Should I be worried that Jeffers' lawyers will come after me for using that phrase in the description of this post? will they send letters to everybody who uses the "blog" or "shout" tools to send this story around. Will they ask digg for a dollar for each digg the post receives?

    Nah, that's ridiculous... or is it?
  • ucdbunny, on 04/27/2009, -1/+50Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
    Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

    Everybody on digg should say this a million times.
  • fallingdamage, on 04/27/2009, -2/+49*opens dictionary to A*

    *calls lawyer and patent office and starts going down the list*
  • AmyVernon, on 04/27/2009, -3/+49@CoD4 - I have a copyright on that sentence.
  • dball48, on 04/27/2009, -6/+51My next book will be called "These lawyers doesn't make a ***** sense."
  • Tiggereth, on 04/27/2009, -0/+45Maybe she'll Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway...
  • elcamino, on 04/27/2009, -1/+46Done
  • Jincopunk, on 04/27/2009, -0/+42Thanks! Your review is being processed.
    Your review will be posted on the site, typically within 48 hours. You'll be able to see the review either on the product page, or on your profile page. If your review has not appeared online and you'd like to know why, contact us.
  • vuke69, on 04/27/2009, -1/+42***** You

    (do you take paypal?)
  • Jincopunk, on 04/27/2009, -0/+40spam it
  • dougmidkiff, on 04/27/2009, -6/+45I like how 6 people have dugg this up, but it looks like only two diggers have gone and given this book a "1-star rating."

    Digg.....where lazy happens
  • trentrezn0r, on 04/27/2009, -0/+37Feel the fear and do it anyway.
  • inactive, on 04/27/2009, -1/+38Epic amount of win detected.
  • lukis100, on 04/27/2009, -0/+36Perhaps you should: "feel the fear and do it anyway"
  • inactive, on 04/27/2009, -6/+41feel the fear and do it anyway?

    lol who would even want to take credit for that? thats the gayest ***** i ever heard
  • rhapsodisiac, on 04/27/2009, -0/+35And done again.
  • Nattybumpoe, on 04/27/2009, -0/+35Here is a comment on the original blog post. Somewhat ironic (I think it was posted before this story -- April 26th, 2009, 19:57 pm):

    "This was a great blog, I am really glad you spent some time on the topic of fear. Susan Jeffers has a great book “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.” I think it would be a valuable resource for everyone who reads Zen Habits."
  • secrity, on 04/27/2009, -0/+34done
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 100 of 559 discussions

  • Add a Comment

    Login or register to comment!
    Or, sign-in super fast with your Facebook account ...


© Digg Inc. 2009 — Content created and posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain | Terms of Use Updated | Privacy Policy
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.