“Hon” Outrage Spreads to Facebook

Posted on December 10, 2010 by atomictv

Check out the “No one owns HON, hon” group on Facebook. We are still awaiting a parody song and Youtube video.

Update: It’s now spread to Twitter: http://twitter.com/NotCafeHon

Update update: It’s on the interwebs: http://www.takebackhon.com

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“Hon Man” Strikes Again (1993)

Posted on December 10, 2010 by atomictv

April 6, 1993: The so-called “Hon Man” personalizes the state-maintained “Welcome to Baltimore” sign on Route 295.

Watch “‘Hon Man’ Strikes Again video” at WBALTV.com.

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Cafe Hon owner defends Herself against criticism that she trademarked the word ‘hon’ for financial gain

Posted on December 10, 2010 by atomictv

Denise Whiting photo by Kitty Charlton, Baltimore Messenger

Dense Whiting says she’ll sue those who use her oval logo

by Larry Perl, The Baltimore Messenger, 12/10/10

Denise Whiting, owner of Cafe Hon and founder of the annual HonFest celebration in Hampden, said she thinks controversy about her branding the word ‘hon’ — including registering it as a federal trademark — is being blown out of proportion by merchants and the media.

“Am I going to go after everybody that uses the word ‘hon’? No,” she said.

But she said that if people try to sell merchandise with her trademarked oval logo on it, “I’ll sue their pants off.”

Continue reading “Cafe Hon owner defends Herself against criticism that she trademarked the word ‘hon’ for financial gain” at The Baltimore Messenger.

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Sorry, Hon, It’s Trademarked: Cafe Owner Owns Rights To Word

Posted on December 10, 2010 by atomictv

Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting owns the rights to Baltimore’s favorite term of endearment

By Jill Rosen, The Baltimore Sun, 12/9/2010

Denise Whiting has not only built her life around the fabled Balmer Hon, opening Cafe Hon and founding the city’s annual Honfest — she’s helped to make the three-letter term of endearment a household word around town.

Now she owns it.

Whiting has officially trademarked the word “Hon.” Over the years, she has trademarked almost every play on the word she could think of. Like the words “Cafe Hon” and “Honfest” and “Hon Bar” and “Hontown,” the name of her newest Hampden shop. She owns the image of the word captured in an oval, the way it appears on all those bumper stickers. And that’s just for starters.

She owns the rights to using “Hon” on napkins, note cards, stationery, calendars and pens. Without her permission, it can’t be used on sweatshirts, hats, underwear, ties, shorts — and certainly not boas.

Continue reading “Sorry, Hon, It’s Trademarked: Cafe Owner Owns Rights To Word” at The Baltimore Sun.

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