The KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON campaign e-petition

Keep Calm Campaign

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Read comments of overwhelming support (742) >>

We need your support to overturn an unscrupulous trademark registration of the now iconic, wartime motivational poster -'KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON'

This very well known British phrase is now trademarked!
On the 25th March 2011, Mark Coop of 'Keep Calm and Carry On LTD' registered an EU trademark of the very well known phrase "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" in an attempt to take ownership of the very British and now very famous, nostalgia invoking, wartime poster. He also has a trademark pending in the United States & Canada.
This image is more than just a money making device for a businessman. The trademark has disgusted everyone from Barter Books (who own & discovered the original poster), wartimeposters.co.uk (owners of the other original poster) and Kerry Cade from Simply Printing 4U whose eBay business was greatly affected by the trademark. The move by Mark Coop is driven purely to make money 'no matter what' and is far from the spirit of the wartime poster. We simply cannot not let this happen and we aim to reverse this. It is a disgrace... We need your help to overturn this!

Thank you everyone so far, we have had so many visitors of support that this site is now viral! This campaign seems to have not only touched a nerve with the people of Britain but right around the world. Comments not just on this site, but everywhere on the Internet strongly support this cause and are overwhelmingly against Mark Coop, but still he refuses to fix his moral compass and overturn the trademark.
The Keep Calm Campaign website has now featured in the Daily Mail & BBC news (see in the press below).

The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On (only 3 mins)

UPDATE
08/03/2012
No news yet. We were advised at the start that the process could take approx 6 months. Let hope that victory & common sense is just around the corner.

13/12/2011
Please contact us if you have had eBay listings removed due to eBays's VeRO program. We will advise you on what you can do next.

30/11/2011
McDaniel & Co, Intellectual Property and Commercial Law experts, have joined the fight against Mr Coop and others attempting to trade mark 'Keep Calm' in various fields. As well as working directly on behalf of Barter Books, they will be pleased to advise, without charge, anyone who has been adversely affected by Mr Coops' actions, especially those who have had their eBay accounts suspended.

If you would like assistance in this area, please contact Stuart at barterbooks.co.uk in the first instance, giving details of your trading and Mr Coop's action against you.

29/09/2011
Mr Coop now claims (suprise!) that he owns an original Keep Calm poster and produces all of his products from this. He has not produced evidence of this to support his claims nor did he mention it in his BBC radio interview as would be expected?

IN THE PRESS

The battle reaches right across America on the TIME Magazine website!
It's War! Battle Erupts Over Poster Phrase 'Keep Calm and Carry On'

BBC Look North

Dailymail.co.uk
Keep calm but don't carry on

Keep Calm Campaign is in the The Telegraph...
Keep Calm and Carry On poster is causing a storm

On BBC Radio 4 - You and yours program
Listen Now on BBC iPlayer - fast forward to 37:00 to listen to the article

Other news & links

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National icon that belongs to the public
Keep Calm and Carry On was created by the British government at the start of World War II and was to be used in the event of a German invasion or catastrophic event. It was never required and was lost in time until 2001 when it was re-discovered in a box of old books by Stuart Manley of Barter Books. His wife Mary had it framed and displayed in the bookshop and they then produced copies and brought the much loved 'Keep Calm' poster to the public. As the poster is now older than 50 years, it is out of crown copyright and in the public domain, free for everyone to use. Mark Coop took his copy from Barter Books in 2007, removed their name, registered 'keepcalmandcarryon.com' and then started using the image for his own purposes, neither asking permission nor acknowledging his source. He has now attempted to take this from the public to exploit for his own personal & selfish gain by restricting everyone, apart from himself, from freely using the image of the poster.

Read more about how Mark Coop setup his business including stolen research from Dr Bex Lewis (the person responsible for researching the history of the poster!)
Visit Dr Bex Lewis's website >>

YesNoMaybe, a company that was selling products before Mark Coop.
Visit the YesNoMaybe website for the details >>

What is being be done?
On 19/09/2011 Trade Mark Direct submitted an application to cancel the trademark on the grounds that the words are too widely used for one person to own the exclusive rights. The case may take 4-6 months to process. In the meantime, we are collecting registrations to support this and to challenge future attempts (if any) to register 'Keep Calm' trademarks so that they can be challenged and stopped at an application stage.
We are calling on the nations 'war-time spirit' to fight Mark Coop & others will evil plans of domination. We must return 'Keep Calm And Carry On' to the people of Britain, and to keep it that way..... we must 'keep calm and fight on!'
Your e-petition registration is very important in protecting KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON - WE NEED YOU!

Read about Trade Mark Directs role in saving Keep Calm >>

Who are we?

We are a group of wartime enthusiasts, collectors & traders who hold two surviving original 'Keep Calm and Carry On' posters outside of the British national archives.
We are totally appalled by the underhand actions of Mark Coop. Our interest with 'Keep Calm' is a result of our passion for bygone eras. Some of us sell 'Keep Calm' products but unlike him, we do not agree that it's free use should be taken away from the public. Mark Coop claims that he brought the poster to the public but the widely known truth is that it was really Stuart & Mary (Barter Books) who discovered and brought 'Keep Calm' to the public in the first place!...
...Really Mark Coop, you have a nerve!

Barter Books original Keep Calm>>

wartimeposters.co.uk original Keep Calm >>

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DISCLAIMER
The comments posted on this site are the views and opinions of visitors to this website.
It has been suggested by Mark Coop's family and friends that this is a hate campaign, it is not. This e-petition is in place to gather registrations of support to overturn Mark Coop's trademark. Comments are optional and reflect the views of the general public (visitors to this site). Please keep comments civilised.

Comments: (742)
These are the views of visitors to this site.

19/09/2011 "Property of Great Britain. Not property of one man to trademark. Even the two owners of the originals do not trademark and stop others using. Bad man..........." Bernadette Ward
20/09/2011 "Remain calm and fight on!" Howard Skidmore
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 21/09/2011 "Keep Calm and Campaign!"
20/09/2011 "I live by my big poster of 'keep calm' at the bottom of my stairs,every morning I look at it when the chaos of children around me :) No way should this happen,it's a piece of our history "
20/09/2011 "keep it for the british public from a time when we stood together as one. we should be proud of it and not be trying to be greedy by trademarking it!"
20/09/2011 "Stamp this clown out. What he's doing is stupid, unnecessary and most of all greedy!"
20/09/2011 "It's a public item! Let's keep it that way!" Kate O'Mara
20/09/2011 "There should be a request to the UK Intellectual Property Office to reject this RTM because (1), it contravenes Clause 4 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 in that it includes a part of a Royal Coat of Arms, or at least appears to; and (2) because it contravenes Clause 5(4)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 as it is identical to an unregistered trade mark in use beforehand, namely by Barter Books since 2001. The request has, however, to come from Barter Books itself and not by means of a public petition."
	RESPONSE BY: Stuart & Mary - Barter Books on 21/09/2011 "Barter Books sought expert advice as soon as they became aware of Coop's trade mark in May. We were advised that our position was tricky as Coop has not taken any action against ourselves on eBay or anywhere else and until he did, our position was problematic. In any event you cannot just 'request a reject' - there is considerable cost involved - 800 euros to IPO plus your own attorney's costs (plus Coops costs if you lose). Secondly, there are now three legal challenges being made or prepared by three Intellectual Property law firms, Marks & Clerk for ourselves, plus Briffa and Trade Mark Direct for others. We are trying to co-ordinate these challenges so that effort is not needlessly duplicated. Happy to lead, but apparently the most effective challenges will come from those who have been adversely affected by Coops' actions."
20/09/2011 "This belongs to all of us ! As the daughter of a very brave sailor who was off the Normandy Beaches the evening before D Day and who took part in the notorious Arctic Convoys I object to any one person owning the copyright. I speak too for my Mum who's home, as a little girl, was bombed by the enemy; not because they were in a target area but because the enemy planes dumped their bombs after they'd finished trying to bomb the Tyne...week after week after week What greed and what a lack of understanding by this man of what it should mean to be British. Keep Calm and Carry On Petitioning ! Carol Brodie"
20/09/2011 "Carry On!"
20/09/2011 "How can a phrase from a wartime poster be copyrighted in 2011? Ridiculous."
20/09/2011 "Totally agree, how can you trademark the words? Does that mean every time I write on Facebook 'Keep Calm and Carry On' I owe him money? How ridiculous is that!"
20/09/2011 "If ever a situation highlighted the difference between the "Let's all pull together" attitude during the war and the modern "Screw you all, I see an opportunity" of this generation, this is it. The slimy little bast... I mean business man, should be vilified for this."
20/09/2011 "Seriously considering investigating if I can copyright the phrase "World War Two". This time next year I too could be a greedy, unscrupulous parasite! "
20/09/2011 "This belongs to the people not to one individual."
20/09/2011 "The action of Mr Coop goes against the whole spirit of this poster. Okay so we are not in a global war and not facing an invasion but the country is under a fincancial dark cloud which is why the UK has taken to this poster fondley as a means to get through based on the posters original message: ......in these dark hours...pull together...keep calm ...and carry on..... But what is Mr Coop doing? He's seen this as an opportunity to......get a EU trade mark......get selfish ....and cash in...(hey that's a catchy slogan - I might copyright my own gains too!) Bad form Mr Coop!"
20/09/2011 "How can an individual 'own' this? If the Government haven't sold it to him, it's theft! If he's trying to trademark it, he's about 65 years too late."
20/09/2011 "I was appalled when ebay withdrew my listings. I think this man is a charlatan who should be stopped. I notice he isn't bothering to go after the "big boys" like John Lewis, Next or Past Times. It is so distasteful that he is taking something which represented the best of this country for his own greedy means. Well done on trying to stop him."
20/09/2011 "Keep calm . Coughs and Sneezes spead diseases"
20/09/2011 "Its ridiculous this has been allowed. "
21/09/2011 "I strongly agree that this poster/quotation should remain free to use by the public. "
21/09/2011 "Disgraceful!" Sue Remment
21/09/2011 "Does this mean I can take anything in the public domain after copyright has expired and claim it as mine. RIDICULOUS"
21/09/2011 "It is appalling that such an icon can be hijacked by one greedy individual. This trademark claim MUST be overturned."
21/09/2011 "Keep clam and carry on..... doing a great job, all will come together in the end"
21/09/2011 "Let it stay in the public domain as it's been an inspiration for our past relations and now today! If it hadn't become such a phenomenon this wouldn't be happening. Shame on you, money grabber!!!"
21/09/2011 "This smacks of one man greedily trying to make money out of a national institution and should not be allowed!"
21/09/2011 "But remember, men, we have one invaluable weapon on our side: we have an unbreakable spirit to win! A bulldog tenacity that will help us hang on while there's breath left in our bodies. You don't get that with Gestapo and jackboots. You get that by being British!"
21/09/2011 "It was created for the people and should remain that way! Defend it with all your might!"
21/09/2011 "What an idiot this guy is!!"
21/09/2011 "It's a national slogan not a trademark. Keep calm and bugger off coop!"
21/09/2011 "Keep calm and fight on! This can't happen!"
21/09/2011 "I'm in Australia and I'm against this trademarking!! What a selfish notion. Leave "Keep Calm and Carry On" for the people, as a tribute to your great nation and the memories of history. That cannot be "owned" by anyone"
21/09/2011 "This is an anti compettive move which ceetainly is not in keeping with the original slogan all those years back"
21/09/2011 "keep right on !!!" Ann-marie Shand
21/09/2011 "Outrageous!"
21/09/2011 "Fight him on the beaches!"
21/09/2011 "How silly - this belongs to the nation not one greedy man."
21/09/2011 "Must not be allowed. There is little enough of our past identity left, don't let greed take this over as well." Anita Bickell
21/09/2011 "How something that has been in the public domain can be trademarked is beyond me. "
21/09/2011 "KC&CO Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might!"
21/09/2011 "Keep the message out there, life goes on. After all we have been through as a nation lately the message resounds as loud as the day it was first shared. Keep calm and carry on!"
21/09/2011 "Oi! You! Get your hands off our history and heritage. What are you going to copyright next ? Chamberlain's "Your Country Needs You" . It's not yours to exploit , give it up."
21/09/2011 "it's really hard to keep calm when you see this carry on!" Gary Marto
21/09/2011 "i support Mark"
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 21/09/2011 "He will need all the support he can get.... I guess that's just you then ..."
21/09/2011 "how can you trademark a phrase, what a load of rubbish, get this over turned and bring some common sense back to the world"
21/09/2011 "I agree with all the remarks made regarding this 'slogan' it is a 'national' phrase and not solely for one person to adopt, it should be adopted by all who wish to use it on their merchandise. it is a reminder to us all of the men and women who fought to keep this country of our British. bonnie and charles Cade "
21/09/2011 "Coop Out and Carry On! Boycott Coop, and Ebay too if they side with this odious man."
21/09/2011 "How is it possible for someone to trademark something that they have had no input in creating" Kevin Green
21/09/2011 "Completely agree with all of the fantastic comments in response to this farce. Unfortunately those who have reproduced the 'Keep Calm' poster, with great appreciation for it's design and place in history, have also been threatened with legal action by Barter Books in the past. Not sure if their stance has since changed?"
22/09/2011 "Bonkers!"
22/09/2011 "Property of our great heritage. Born out of the collective spirit of the nation, and to whom it should remain."
22/09/2011 "Keep heritage free."
22/09/2011 "I don't think any young man of todays generation has any right to lay claim to this iconic poster, what a disgrace!"
22/09/2011 "I have watched the breakfast programme this morning. And I can not believe this man Coop! If this is not an act of downright selfishness from someone in the name of greed, I dont know what else it is. Most definitely the reverse to the name he has tradmarked........'Keep Calm and Carry On' surely was to help people keep together against the Germans if the country was over taken. Luckily it was not needed, and that is why these posters were turned to pulp........he needs to actually do some research and have a REAL passion for his business...........He certainly did not come across as a decent thoughtful person :-( " Laura Jenkins
22/09/2011 "Mark Coop and his 'Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd' should be ashamed. This is a complete abuse and misuse of intellectual property, an insult to the public good and damaging to the stimulation of growth and economy. The campaign to get this disgraceful trade mark ruling overturned has my full support. Beth Brook" Beth Brook
22/09/2011 "Barter Books have had to deal with nonsense from this guy for years. He needs to wind his neck in."
22/09/2011 "hope it never has to be given rem there will always be an england"
22/09/2011 "These words would of been cover under Crown Copyright. However, Crown Copyright expires on artistic works created by the UK government after 50 years, the image is now in the PUBLIC domain. The intellectual property will also belong to the UK government, perhaps they may have something to say."
22/09/2011 "I really hope you are successful with this action. Not only is the trademarking morally unjustifiable when the business idea wasn't original, it's against the spirit of the slogan anyway." Julie Leadbeater
22/09/2011 "Kerry has to get over it I'm afraid. Seems to me like she is riding off the back of someone who has worked jolly hard to bring this brand to the forefront. I kind of get her view, but it's time to move on Kerry and find another phrase my lovely!"
22/09/2011 "Note that I am the person who wrote the original history of this poster, and spent the money doing the research, without which there would be no back story... and therefore I don't think it would have had the resonance that it has had: See my reaction: http://ww2poster.co.uk/2011/09/keep-calm-and-campaign-on-bbcbreakfast-keepcalmandcarryon/"
22/09/2011 "Idiot. Your country doesn't need you!"
22/09/2011 "I think some of you are perhaps not looking at the reasons. This guy had an idea to use this slogan printed on items some years ago and see if people liked it. It seemed that people did, and it turned into his livelihood. So why should someone else come along and copy his idea and print their own stuff? I think the trademark would simply not be necessary in an ideal world, because people wouln't steal other people's business ideas. Nobody owns the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" in the real world, but I see it that he's just protecting his business interests. I don't see any disrespect meant to the memory of WW2 or any surviving relatives. I will be honest and tell you that I've known Mark since school days and watched him build this idea from his bedroom. He has my support."
22/09/2011 "The use of this phrase was re popularised before Mark Coop latched on to registering it as his company name . He does not have the imagination to think up a phrase for himself that would be as popular a money earner so the phrase should never have been allowed to be registered privately . It is a popular phrase belonging to the British Public, coined by a Government Department and as such should remain in the public domain . What will we allow next , registration of sayings from Shakespeare as company names ? Much Ado About Nothing Plc or .com etc !"
22/09/2011 "This is clearly one of the most blatant mistakes so far made by the EU in relation to European Trade Marks. COOP has no original item, no claim to being the exclusive owner, instigator or inventor of the phrase. He makes no goods that can be called "KEEP CALM and CARRY ON" and wasn't even in business before it had made the headlines and achieved widespread exposure at which time hundreds of people began printing shirts with the slogan on. As far as i can see he might have a case for deckchairs, but the EU trademark is supposed to include an exemption for those persons who were already trading the items for which this mark has been registered. As one of those persons, and someone who believed that when Crown Copyright expired and became Public Domain, it was meant to remain just that. I hope they will realise their mistake, rectify it, and return to a level playing field - but then all that has to be explained to eBay and that's another story."
22/09/2011 "Surely the registration of a Trademark cannot be retrospective, and seeing as those traders dealing in "Keep Calm" products have produced and sold "Keep Calm" branded products for several years, how is it possible for the trademark to be legally applicable, and more importantly, enforced? A commonly-used unregistered brand surely cannot be retrospectively trademarked as it's already in common use?"
22/09/2011 "This is an affront to common sense and a despicable attempt to damage the livelihoods of hundreds of small businesses who are happily competing in an open and fair market to sell KCCO items on line. I hope he loses sleep, because we are..." Paula Newman
22/09/2011 "To be fair no one would know about this great British phrase unless Mark coop took it mainstream. Britain is suffering from a huge financial downturn and it's small business and entrepreneurs like Mark that will turn our country from 'ok Britain to 'great Britain' again"
22/09/2011 "I saw the BBC report and it seems like there is a bit of sour grapes going on here as Mark had the guts to put everything into his business and make it a success. I have bought some of Marks goods and he is promoting the brand in a respectful way with quality items. Surely someone should be focusing their attention on stopping all the 'keep calm and...' imitation slogans that are around now as they are a lot more disrespectful than Marks trademark."
22/09/2011 "It's disgraceful that such a greedy capitalist who had abosultely nothing to do with this poster can claim ownership of it..."
22/09/2011 "I don't understand how someone can trademark something that's been PD for over 50 years. OK, he invested lots of Time/Effort/Money but that was HIS descision. Nobody asked for that, and the right to use the "brand" should not change as a result."
22/09/2011 "Bought my poster from Barter Books in 2007 off their website when I was at university. Barter Books have always been dignified in their 'find', and though they have made money from it, they've not exploited it in the way Mark has. Barter Books also recognise that it was Dr Bex Lewis of http://ww2poster.co.uk/ who actually rediscovered this great poster. "
22/09/2011 "Barter Books are complete hypocrites, and have a massive chip on the shoulder due to Mr Coop's success( and their failure to secure the domain name).Barter books may have sold a few posters first, but Mr Coop took the idea and put it on a range of other products.Barter books then copied his products as did all the e bay users and high street shops.Fundamentally if Mr Coop hadn't taken the initiative no one would be having this debate or selling these products.FACT!"
22/09/2011 "I am sorry but to claim trademark of a nationally used phrase is surely an madness - there has been no unique creativity or action applied to this term to cause it be the trademark of any one person other than that of the Crown who first used it, produced it and copyrighted it over 50 years ago now, and it is certainly not an individuals business trademark as it has been used by many people and reproduced by many people prior to this application being made."
22/09/2011 "This flies in the face of logic. I'm off to file a trademark clams on the words "Panzer" and "Spitfire". "
22/09/2011 "Mark Coop comes out of this looking not just unscrupulous, but sleazy and underhand. He has balls, you have to give him that, but no right to own the phrase and branding."
22/09/2011 "ridiculous, there is always someone trying to jump on any financial bandwagon"
22/09/2011 "I will be suggesting to the COOP that they pursue Mr Mark Coop for breach of copyright. How can he get away with using that iconic brand as his surname?"
22/09/2011 "You just don't trademark something like this. It belongs to everyone."
22/09/2011 "You cant trademark an example of british wartime spirit, this slogan belongs to the british people. Its disgusting that one mans greed can go so far." Elizabeth Hannon
22/09/2011 "Quite ludicrous and downright offensive to a small businessman who has indeed spent four years building up a business. The trademark laws may be complicated and unfair to people who don't own trademarks, but why on earth are you all jumping on this like it's a deliberate attempt to kill off other businesses? Obviously it isn't. What it amounts to is good business sense, and as he claimed on BBC this morning, if it wasn't for his actions in bringing this slogan/catchphrase back into the public consciousness, you wouldn't even know about it. So you're happy to say what a terrible person he is for wanting to protect his livelihood, to which he is perfectly entitled, but you won't acknowledge the pivotal role he played in making this slogan 'cool'. All businesses seek to protect their trademarks and intellectual property. It is entirely logical and fair that they do so. Defaming a man on a website like this, which ignores the fact that Kerry Cade herself uses the argument that it's "not in keeping with the spirit" of the slogan rather than a valid business reason, shows that the majority of comments on this site are foundless. Greed? Really? A small businessman protecting himself. Well done for missing the point entirely."
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 22/09/2011 "Quote -"downright offensive to a small businessman" you are way off the mark and it is you that has missed the point entirely!. For a start, lots of people have built a business that includes selling 'Keep Calm' products eg: Stuart & Mary Manley from Barter Books. If it was not for them, Mark Coop would not have a 'Keep Calm' business and YES HE IS TRYING TO KILL OFF OTHER BUSINESSES, that is what this campaign is all about?!?! The majority of comments on this site are not foundless and clearly show what the vast majority of people think after reading up about the history of the poster and it's re-discovery. People connected to Mark Coop might see it differently but he set up a business from a poster that he bought from Barter Books and that is a cold fact that he cannot hide. He did not seek permission and no one asked him to do it. If his business is affected by this trademark dispute, then all he has to do is have the trademark scrubbed, it's quite simple. People see this as a very underhand and greedy move."
22/09/2011 "It astounds me that Mark Coop genuinely believes he has the right to Trademark a historical statement, not to mention without acknowledgement to those who've actually researched and brought to light this WW2 poster. How dare one man think he can have exclusive rights to such a piece of history! "
22/09/2011 "Capt. Mainwaring: "He's copyrighted a phrase he has no right to? Stupid boy!""
22/09/2011 "Mark has brought the poster back to life! People seem to be cashing in on his ideas and success which were born long before any of them probably even knew about the slogan or what it even meant. This seemed so obvious in the interview with Kerry, who, should to keep calm and Kerry on with trying to come up with something herself to put on her mugs and sell on ebay. "
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 23/09/2011 "As a WW2 enthusiast and owner of one of only two original Keep Calm posters in private collections, I regard myself quite knowledgeable on the subject and feel obliged to add to this comment. Stuart & Mary Manley brought 'Keep Calm' to the public after they discovered it in 2001. They sold 50,000 of the posters before Mark Coop even set up his business. If anyone was 'cashing in' it was Mark Coop. Stuart Manley discovered 'Keep Calm', Mark Coop did not. He simply applied 'Keep Calm' to products which resulted in a business. "
22/09/2011 "See what I think (as the person who wrote the history of the poster) http://ww2poster.co.uk/2011/09/keep-calm-and-campaign-on-bbcbreakfast-keepcalmandcarryon/ - essentially fair enough run a business, but can't see any way that trademarking it was possible, and his argument that "without him there would be nothing" is rubbish. "
22/09/2011 "He has no right to being the copyright holder of this poster, which is, in fact, no-one's to own."
22/09/2011 "Is Mark a wartime spiv?"
22/09/2011 "This is a ridiculous state of affairs when some one is allowed to copyright a public piece of property designed be the government and has been in the public domain for decades. this design has been used for a good number of years by lots of small companies and individuals prior to this person applying for the copyright in the last year or so, I think it is a little to easy for a small amount of money paid to some european body to get a copyright, which is then only possible for companies with money to burn to legally contest it. with regard to ebay anyone can put an objection in on a listing that causes untold problems to the seller and they do not want to look at a case on its merits as it costs them money to do so. He would not be allowed a copyright of this nature in England. Good luck more power to your elbow or has that been copyrighted in europe also."
22/09/2011 "A phrase such as this cannot be trademarked. Even if it were to be trademarked, Coop has the least claim to the trademark having not sufficiently referenced the origins of said phrase and poster with Barter Books and the extensive research of Dr Bex Lewis."
22/09/2011 "Hopefully his greed being exposed will find him out. Unfortunately not knowing the provenance of KC&CO products might inadvertantly affect the others in the business."
22/09/2011 "The implications of being able to apply for a Trademark on something you didn't design are worrying for all artists and creatives. A very odd decision which I'm sure will be overturned."
22/09/2011 "Chocks away!"
22/09/2011 "Keep calm and drop kick that fool!"
22/09/2011 " This is simply intellectual carpetbagging and if allowed sets a terrible precedent."
22/09/2011 "This is a much loved symbol that reminds us all of some very dark days in the nations history, which sometimes brought out the best in people. So let's keep it for us all to enjoy." Margaret Hames
22/09/2011 "British History is NOT for sale"
22/09/2011 "This was designed for the British public and belongs to the British public"
22/09/2011 "Just sad and frustrating"
22/09/2011 "You're a filthy spiv Mark Coop - f*** you!"
22/09/2011 "This must be in the Public Domain, his trademark is nonsense and I am disappointed that is was granted. The poster was definitely reproduced and sold by Barter Books, years and years before Mark Coop got involved, I remember seeing it advertised. It was later reported by the BBC too. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7869458.stm The slogan was also seen widely in the immediate aftermath of the 2005 7/7 bombings in London with stickers placed on lampposts in the capital. This was reported in the media too. Personally, I was using the image at work as a screen wallpaper around 2005 too. It was seen and commented on by lots of people. When Mark Coop claims other are jumping on what he "came up with" he forgets to mention that he didn't actually come up with it. He jumped on a bandwagon that was already rolling and now claims it as his own. I hope for his own sake he steps back, realises his own mistake, and puts it right. Come on Mark, show your better nature! You'd still be a strong player in that market, and you can protect your livelihood through diversification. Becoming infamous for this won't help at all... use your brain man!"
22/09/2011 "I am quite flabbergasted by the vitriolic ignorance being spouted on this website! Mark has at no point attempted to tradmark the phrase Keep Calm and Carry On, merely the use of it on certain products that he has been selling. Furthermore he has never attempted to (nor would or indeed could) stop people from selling goods with this phrase that he does not already sell or that they were selling before him. Mark is not trying to be greedy - quite the contrary; he is simply trying to protect his investment of considerable time and money from people who are producing poor-quality copies of items that he is already selling. His commitment to quality and value for money is something that a lot of retailers should take note of! Keep on it Mark, you have the support of all the people who know you for the thoroughly kind and decent bloke you are. Ignore these Daily Mail-reading sheep who are all bitter and twisted about someone else reaping the rewards of their hard work."
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 24/09/2011 "His value for money is questionable as he sells posters for �10. Barter Books sells posters for �3.60!, not really good value for money when it is alot cheaper elsewhere (and from the original suppliers). Also, I am quite flabbergasted that you can say 'vitriolic' and then go on to attack Daily Mail readers?!"
22/09/2011 "Something created for the public that then falls into the public domain should not be exploited by one oleaginous man, but free for all to print, enjoy and use without fear of retribution!"
22/09/2011 "Reading the comments on your site, how ironically hysterical. Mr Coop took an opportunity to create and sell a range of products where others had not. He then went after the trademark to protect his efforts while others did not. Others might have and many would claim they could have, but the fact is, they did not, clearly being very busy doing other things like not having the idea, while Mr Coop was taking risks, building a small business and so on. In taking the risk, making the investment and earning a living from it, he did indeed have a nerve...the nerve to take a risk where some sit on their backsides waiting for a handout while whining about 'greed'. Cheerio "
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 22/09/2011 "Did you not read the information on this site? Stuart & Mary Manley found the poster.... Mark Coop built a business around it with out asking permission, he even bought the poster from them. He has worked hard... so what. Others sell 'Keep Calm' products and work hard aswell. Why should Mark steal it and reserve it for his own use? Why do I feel that I keep repeating this?... Keep Calm and Repeat yourself! lol "
22/09/2011 "go get him!" Ash Mahmood
22/09/2011 "i've no objection to making money from selling goods with the slogan, but unless you're the one who invented the slogan, you have no right to stop others doing the same!"
22/09/2011 "I'm not a British national, but I can't do otherwise than support this cause. Keep Calm and Carry On belongs to the people and this man's claim is nothing but opportunistic and absurd."
22/09/2011 "This belongs to us all. I've always bought the poster from Barter Books who sell it cheaper than anywhere else. I hope the negative publicity hits Mark Coop's sales "
22/09/2011 "Pure selfishness! Stolen from the public for profit and personal gain! Hope the application to cancel the trademark which was submitted on 19th Sept gets accepted!"
22/09/2011 "whatever next... this must be stopped. Blatant profiteering and exploitation of our common heritage. If anyone should have a claim its Barter Books and they were generous enough to share it- in true great british spirit! Or copyright it back to the crown and give the money to war veterans."
22/09/2011 "Trademarking something so British as 'Keep Calm and Carry On' is against British principles."
22/09/2011 "This phrase belongs to the people of Britain, it existed long before this person adopted it as his trademark. i would suggest a boycott of his products"
22/09/2011 "I'm getting a bit sick of people just randomly stealing stuff. How about coming up with your own ideas? It makes me sad that ownership these days seems to be more of a case of who made it first to the trademark registry office, rather than who actually created something. Of course, in this case, nobody knows who created it, which is why this should stay in the public domain."
22/09/2011 "He cannot and should not be allowed to use as his own something that isnt! "
23/09/2011 "I am now getting irritated at the pro-COOP comments (fact) that appear to be from COOP himself through friends. There is NO WAY that one man selling T-shirts is going to save the UK economy. Hundreds selling them during 2012 might be a start, but one? No way. Nor does one person have the right to whine on about "working hard" at building up his business, when all he has to do is select products order them and have the slogan printed on them. Meanwhile he is blocking hundreds who also work hard. Where's the justice in that. As for popularity, the whole KCCO world was doing fine without Coop, and will do again. This ridiculous publicity stunt will backfire on him and may benefit everyone else in the long run. I'm just wondering how many are planning to sue for loss of earnings because of Coop's arrogant and reckless behaviour. Keep buggering on. "
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 23/09/2011 "Well said... Sums it right up!"
23/09/2011 "And here is the rub, silly comments like: "Property of Great Britain. Not property of one man to trademark". Well why the hell not? Is Mr Coop not a British subject? Has he not risked, invested and speculated to build a meaningful and profitable business. FACT. We live and propser and enjoy a very good stndard of living thank you very much, cos we live in a capitalist society. This is the thin end of the wedge, if we live in a country where someone can build a business, take risks, pay taxes and then face an Internet campaign to shut the whole thing down? Well that's Communism coupled with socialism or somethng that I will give my life to defend against. This whole thing is a disgrace, Mr Coop come up with the idea before you did, get over it. I shall be ordering a whole hat full of merchandise from www.keepcalmandcarryon.com for my forthcoming social event. (5 year anniversary) I'm not interested in knock offs, if you want quality products I advise you go to the first and original KCACO stockists. i.e www.keepcalmandcarryon.com"
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 23/09/2011 "Well since you put it like that, hell... he can have 'Keep Calm' all to himself... why are we all complaining? Out of curiosity, you say his products are original, can I ask were they originate?....Barter Books? hmmm"
23/09/2011 "Ridiculous man."
23/09/2011 "Keep calm, and keep fighting!! Using 'entrepreneurialism' to try and own posterity (pardon the pun) is selfishness and theft, thinly disguised. This piece of history belongs to the people (for whom it was created)"
23/09/2011 "Remove unauthorised sales from Ebay now!"
23/09/2011 "It is extraordinary that Mark Coop was allowed to register KCCO as a a trademark. These words are clearly in the public domain. This must be challenged."
23/09/2011 "Why is it so difficult for everyone to understand? Mark Coop is not trying to crush other people's lives - he is trying to prevent people copying his products. He has only registered the trademark in certain terms, and several other legitimate companies co-exist with his harmoniously. Look beyond this pathetic 'wartime spirit' imagery that none of us are old enough to remember, the emotive pictures on this 'half truth' site, which is inciting and encouraging abuse to a man you don't even know, and see the actual facts of the case: Mark did not steal anything. He saw an opportunity to create a range of products, not to own a piece of 'public domain heritage'. Indeed the slogan does 'belong' to the collective consciousness, but Mark's range of products were the first of their kind to be trademarked, and therefore he has every right to protect that. He only enforces his trademark in cases where his products are being copied. He does not claim to own the heritage, or the words themselves. This whole thing is wildly ignorant and irresponsible - the administrator clearly states he/she will remove abusive comments, yet many remain. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Perhaps you can find someone actually worthy of throwing rocks at!"
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 23/09/2011 "Chris, we have had this one out via email already!. You really need to take a good look at your own comments, they contain alot of ignorance. I would also be VERY careful about labeling 'Wartime Spirt' as pathetic. It was wartime spirt that helped people through the terrible time of WW2 and helped lead us to victory so that people like yourself and Mark can enjoy the freedom of modern times. I find that labeling very offensive. The whole idea around trademark is to protect something. I will now post the response I sent to you last night so everyone can see.... In response to your points: "The support you show for a friend you meet occasionally for drinks is to be lauded however the facts remain the same. One fact you may not be aware of is that 50,000 keep calm units were sold before your friend began trading. I am unaware of how many units have been sold since but as he has been in business for 4 years is it not fair to say that he has profited as much as any trader in that time? For that reason I personally found it reprehensible action to state on a tv program watched by many people who are not aware of the facts, and I am quoting directly from the interview, that his business is "essentially something I came up with". In light of my earlier comment about units sold before he began trading in what context is that a fair statement to make?""
23/09/2011 "Disgusting greed. No!"
23/09/2011 "This man has seen fit to steal, then claim for his own, a poster created during the darkest days of the second world war to motivate a nation against the forces of evil & oppression. Now he seeks to do the same in a bid for his own commercial gain. Whilst he has every right to do so, he cannot be allowed to be the sole beneficiary of such material. It was created for the nation, belongs to the nation, let those of the nation who wish to do so, make what they will. If his products are the best then he will be okay will he not? But he does deserve a slap for his utter selfishness & self importance."
23/09/2011 "it ours.."
23/09/2011 "LUDICROUS!!"
23/09/2011 "Sorry but am I missing something? Has Mr Coop broken the law in some way? Has he been hacking into the e mail accounts of Ms Cade or Mr and Mrs Barter Books or the voicemail of them and their loved ones. What a fuss about nothing. He has simply had the foresight and intiative to make the most of a business opportunity. Others may be ruing their own failure to do the same but that's their problem not his. I would imagine that Sir Winston C would praise his resourcefulness in these difficult times. Anyone who has sat through Dragons Den will recognise that he has followed the advice that is regularly trotted out there to the letter - securing the trademark on the products that he is marketing and nabbing the .com web domain. Only wish I had thought of it myself! "
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 23/09/2011 "Yes you are missing something. Maybe this statement released by Barter Books today may help... "Barter Books wish to make it clear that Mark Coop has no ethical or moral right to 'Keep Calm'. The reverse - when he first jumped on the band-wagon, six years after it was first put on sale, and two years after the Guardian feature and subsequent TV that started the worldwide spread, it was already well established. We have records showing when he first bought a poster from us, prior to starting his 'business' and his written admission that he used that image, after removing our name, without either asking or acknowledging his source. He even took our history of the poster, which is our copyright, without acknowledging either ourselves or Dr Bex Lewis, whose dissertation was the prime source. (Subsequent correspondence got him to at least acknowledge Dr Bex!) By the time he formed the company 'Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd.' and subsequently got an EU trade mark for the phrase, it was already in use by literally hundreds of other people (many kind enough to acknowledge their source!) and this trade mark should never have been allowed.""
23/09/2011 "The company YesNoMaybe produced KCACO t-shirts long before Mark Coop. You can find an article on their website following the link below. Surely this invalidates all of Mark's ridiculous claims. http://www.yesnomaybe.co.uk/newsdetail.aspx?idBlog=294"
23/09/2011 "The whole point about this (besides obvious Trademark Law inconsistancies), is that this guy did not create anything other than a business using someone elses concept! To trademark the poster is not to protect something that he has created (as his friend stated) but to lay financial claim over something that already existed in the Public Domain. I am confident that the RIGHT thing will happen here and that the Trademark will eventually be overturned on the basis of being registered in Bad Faith. I might go and Trademark the bible and the koran, do you think there might be some money in them? Or how about Hallelujah or Allah a akbar? "
23/09/2011 "The reason why he sought trademark rights in the EU is quite simple. He knew very well that this would not have been sanctioned in the UK by any respectable legal body. I suspect the European lawyer he went to - knew nothing about the true meaning of this slogan or the empathy it holds with the British public. The slogan was issued by the government in WW11, in the event that, if Germany did invade this country, this would be an uplifting and rallying cry to the British people to carry on regardless. It represents freedom and so should be freely available to the British people and not the sole property of one extremely greedy little man. This slogan was out of copyright and hence could be used freely by businesses. His claim to be the first person to use this slogan commercially is also wrong as there were many other companies trading and using this design before he entered the market. "
23/09/2011 "Trademarking "Keep Calm & Carry On" is surely madness. This must not be allowed, particularly not when the overriding reason for doing so is clearly greed."
23/09/2011 "I am amazed at this guy's gall and his sense of entitlement. He has no rights over this phrase or the trademark. In my opinion he is an idiot and a thief, and has stolen from the public. I feel angry that he is still trading."
23/09/2011 "As the webmaster of the Keep Calm-o-matic I'm disappointed in the trademarking of the Keep Calm slogan. The poster itself is long out of copyright (crown copyright only lasts for 50 years from the date of publication) so there's really no justification to trademark the slogan. Those of us that have commercial activities in this area should be able to acknowledge each other's rights to try and do what we can, provided we're not dishonouring the spirit of the original poster. I'd also add that from my point of view Keep Calm doesn't make much money - it pays the hosting costs and buys a beer or two but that's pretty much it."
23/09/2011 "Whilst it is admirable that 'Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd' seized an opportunity to build a small business on the back of just one Government phrase, I think they should now hang their head in shame. If Mr Coop were a true entrepreneur he would have enough confidence in his own talents and products to stay one step ahead of his competitors and he would spend his time, energy and money creating something new and original to support and enhance his current range. I expect this battle will snowball and result in some very negative and damaging publicity for 'Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd' and some very positive publicity for the wonderfully sensible and dignified Barter Books and Wartime Posters, but as always, the ultimate winners will be the IP legal teams with their big fat paycheques!"
24/09/2011 "Regarding the great comment above, please could I just ask admin to make one correction as there is an error which could be damaging to our business. Mark Coop operates 'Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd', not 'Keep Calm Ltd' as stated in the comment above. Keep Calm Ltd is our company, trading as keepcalmgallery.com. We are firm believers in the freedom and true spirit behind the KCACO poster, please don't get our companies confused! We were running Keep Calm Gallery on a small scale online, from our university halls before Mark Coop's business began. Very sad to see what is happening now. We would really appreciate it if you could amend the comment above to state the correct company, 'Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd', rather than our company, 'Keep Calm Ltd'. Many thanks."
24/09/2011 "To solely claim this iconic statement is an absolute monopoly, you have no right!"
24/09/2011 "good luck in your efforts to thwart Mr. Coop 's ungracious attempt at stealing your idea. Just keep calm and carry on with your campaign."
24/09/2011 "Surely it is unethical to be allowed to trademark something that isn't yours, as there is no question that Mark Coop did not invent this phrase, or the poster design. It is like someone trying to trademark the Lords Prayer!" Nicki Payton
24/09/2011 "Its totally wrong what he's doing! The "keep calm" slogan needs to stay in the public domain. He cant just take something that isnt his and claim it as his own! "
24/09/2011 "shocking behaviour.... just not "the done thing" this is a piece of Uk history and no-one should be able to tradmark "keep calm and carry on petitioning! ""
24/09/2011 "greedy man"
24/09/2011 "This belongs to us all!!!!"
24/09/2011 "This cannot be allowed to happen! It would be like trademarking a Churchill speech! this slogan belongs to the British public."
24/09/2011 "stop jumping on a bandwagon for your own gain, its selfishness in the extreme"
24/09/2011 "I feel it is wrong for Mark Coop to claim this as 'his'. He will try and claim 'dig for victory' next!" ANGELA Almond
24/09/2011 "It should not be possible to trademark something over 50 years old!"
24/09/2011 "Greed. Unethical and illegal. "
24/09/2011 "Calm Down and Get A Life Mr Coop!! "
24/09/2011 "Nasty, greedy, selfish man, who needs to be stopped. A pathetic attempt to steal a national icon :("
24/09/2011 "I have an email from Barter Books, about the Keep Calm and Carry On poster, from way back in 2005 if that's of any use to prove anything." Elaine Greenwood-Hyde
25/09/2011 "I have a Keep Calm and Carry On bag which I got from Mark Coop's site. I'm afraid that is the first and LAST product I'll be buying from him. The poster and the phrase are simply not his to trademark. "
25/09/2011 "When one looks at the generous and open way that Stuart and Mary Manley of Barter Books shared their find, it is depressing to see a chancer like Coop trying to appropriate and muscle in on this iconic poster - and so unnecessary. What a sad individual he must be. And whatever his case in law, it fails in the more important court of ethics and morality. He must be seriously short of business nous if the only plan he has is to capitalise on someone else's original idea. What an utter parasite. As to his family and friends suggesting this is a 'hate campaign', though I can understand he has family, I'm surprised he has friends. "
25/09/2011 "It looks to me like Mr Coop pipped you lot to the post first, and now you're clutching at straws over copyright legalities. To me it looks like Mr Coop has every right to protect his business interests, more so in these times we live in, and you're just sorry that you didn't have the foresight to act in the way he did. Leave it alone as your argument really doesn't stand up."
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 25/09/2011 "Yet another post from the Mark Coop corner that completely avoids the raw facts (another friend perhaps?). What I have noticed with the pro Mark Coop posts it that NOT one acknowledges that he was not the first to sell Keep Calm products. They also don't mention that his business is built up around a poster that he bought from Barter Books. If you are going to defend Mark Coop, at least put facts on the table and refrain from fabricating a better scenario for Mark Coop. The pressure is now on him to cancel his trademark on something that is not his. If he created Keep Calm, then he would have the right to protect it but he didn't. He is simply just one of many that distribute the image but the dfference with him is his intensions to monopolise, a move that has caused a lot of ill feeling towards him which he should have expected. The case againt him is overwhelming and we are confident that common sense will preveile."
25/09/2011 "We have had a few keep calm products removed from ebay even tho we have been listing these long before this person even had the trademark ebay will not listen to there customers 18/10/10 was the date this trademark was issued. Also it is totaly wrong for this guy to claim rights to this slogan and image as he had nothing to do with the design. This is a public domain image and slogan and is free to use for anybody."
25/09/2011 "how can something so essentially and recognisably "ours" become someones property?"
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 25/09/2011 "Easy.... greed"
25/09/2011 "Stuff like this got the British people through the war and should belong to the British people not used to make profit from those folk who made it through the war years and more importantly the people who didn't. It's devaluing the slogans. How can you feel comfortably by making money from it?"
25/09/2011 "this is great"
25/09/2011 "To the pro Mark group - he was certainly not the first entrant into the market. We actually did a legal sweep to see whether there were any trademark laws in place in June 2010 and there were none! He only registered the agreement in October last year way way after many others who had already been selling product with this slogan on. This slogan was registered in Europe because no English/UK lawyer would have granted him such a trademark!! "
25/09/2011 "How can a private individual trademark something that was produced for the government, paid for by the tax payer and now out of copyright which should be in the public domain.!!! Whats next someone trademarking Hello, goodbye and you have to pay a royalty every time you use it in speech or print!!"
25/09/2011 "To trademark a piece of history is a travesty. The sentiments should be available to every citizen. I live in the United States, but I feel strongly that everyone should have the opportunity to use this slogan in a time when calm is called for, and carrying on is so necessary."
25/09/2011 "its a outrage to the british public."
25/09/2011 "Mark Coop should be ashamed to call himself British - that jumped u little man thought he could own a phrase that belongs to the British people - bad show (p.s Mr Coop - I HAD A 'KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON' T-SHIRT IN THE 80's!!!!)" Glenn Bruce
25/09/2011 "So he didn't create the slogan or poster, he doesn't own an original poster, he didn't make the copy of the original poster, yet he somehow thinks he's got a right to it? Cheek."
25/09/2011 "Shame on you, Mark Coop, for feeding off the hard work and creativity of others."
25/09/2011 "Surely Coop is guilty of Passing Off? Producing a range of identical items to sellers who already have an established market? He's a copy artist who invested more money than everyone else, but it doesn't entitle him to a monopoly. He has accounts with John Lewis and other large retailers, so he should be happy with that and not chase after small sellers trying to make a living who also work just as hard. Let the customer decide what is "cheap tat." If they're on eBay, what else would you expect?? He'll have a mountain of legal cases to defend when sellers fight back. Trademarks can be challenged!"
25/09/2011 "Offensive comment !!!!!!!! "
26/09/2011 " I have a vested interest in keeping this open to all, in that the original poster inspired me to create a range of greeting cards and posters under the name of 'Ministry of Britishness', using a range of old and new sayings to impart traditional, stiff-upper-lip ethos in my cards. I do not actually use 'Keep Calm and Carry On' as a message on a card, but the strap line on all my cards is 'Now Carry On', and some cards have things like ' Re: Your Birthday - Keep Calm and have a Large One'. So admitedly the idea is inspired by the original, and then taken further with original and re-vamped sayings. I know of a number of other card companies using the same ideas, and obviously I think mine is jolly good indeed, but the relevant point here is that the original is such an iconic piece that it has and should continue to inspire other creative responses to it, and should be allowed to be free of use in its original form. By all means trademark and protect your original work, and any genuine new development from 'Keep Calm and Carry On' if it warrants it, but leave the original free for use by all, as it belongs to all of us now. www.ministry-of-britishness.co.uk"
26/09/2011 "Unless I'm allowed to patent the wheel then this whole thing is boll*cks."
26/09/2011 "This belongs to all the tax payers of Great Britain, not the guy trying to own the copyright - he should know better !! but then again Greed knows no boundries. Gh0sT"
26/09/2011 "Just NO. For goodness' sake. It's not yours Mr. Coop!"
26/09/2011 "It's a britsh iconic phrase and should stay that way."
26/09/2011 "This is a dreadful thing. My response: http://www.conniptions.org/?20110926"
26/09/2011 "Best of luck with this crazy situation. Maria Bustillos Los Angeles"
26/09/2011 "This phrase/sentiment needs to remain public."
26/09/2011 "Mr Coop, when you look through these comments - as I'm sure you will, then remember, as strong as the feelings here seem - there are probably thousands, if not millions of Brits that lived through the war and would be appalled by your greedy actions - but who are not on the internet (and so who's voice is not being heard). I'm sure the word traitor could well be applied - you should be ashamed!!"
26/09/2011 "Disgusting!"
26/09/2011 "THIS IS PART OF ENGLANDS HISTORY.... what will he claim next......"
26/09/2011 "Utterly ridiculous. "
26/09/2011 "This is a disgraceful example of shameless opportunism and greed being rewarded"
26/09/2011 "Money talks, lets shut it up"
26/09/2011 "I think its sick that a man can jump on the back of a phrase that was ment to inspire and help people through hard times. I can understand if he had came up with the phrase but it was someone else who had the great idea first. Neil"
26/09/2011 "This belongs to the people of Great Britain not just one man."
26/09/2011 "Terribly bad form of Mark Coop to try and trademark a phrase that was in use by others several years before him. Sadly for him I expect his selfishness will do more damage to his business than he has thought given how this is likely to spread around the 'net."
26/09/2011 "How did he get the trademark in the first place? Did some one forget to check if it was already in common use? Shame! Carry on calmly ;-)"
26/09/2011 "This phrase belongs to the British public not to one man."
26/09/2011 "People like this clown seem to be forgetting the real british reason behind it."
26/09/2011 "I am one of those effected by this 'supposed' registration and stopped from selling items bearing the motif. The whole crux of the matter is that people were selling items based on this design before Mr Coop started his trading. There is no logic in granting exclusivity to a design to one company when it is is in the public domain and has not been created by the said registrant, who wouldn't have a business if the deisgn hadn't been re-discovered by others." Tony Allen
26/09/2011 "A friend of mine was hit with an 'eBay' cease and desist due to a breach of trademark. This caused her some distress (as we both researched quite extensively to ensure that it was indeed ok to produce products bearing this image and slogan) and has resulted in a loss of revenue and a 'black' mark on her eBay account compliance score. When she told me about it, I instantly contacted 'Keep Calm and Carry On LTD' to ask how they claimed the trademark for this item. I received their standard legal letter (which actually contains some small spelling mistake and, in one part, incorrectly references the EU trademark registration number). I replied questioning their tactics, the legitimacy of the trademark and also their lack of scruples and morals (of which they obviously have none). I was then treated to some self-pitying, whining about them protecting their company, their business, and the hard work that they had put in to creating their products. Thy also made comments about how they were being undercut by people for a product that they owned the legal rights to. I pointed out several errors with their arguments and their oversight/forgetfulness that they hadn't actually had any part in the intellectual creation of what was a national treasure. I then received the legal 'bully-boy' threats that they would prosecute, to the full letter of the law, anyone they felt was trying to threaten them, or breach their trademark. I served in the forces for over 9 years and the singlemost thought that generated my anger is that no one person deserves the right to own any small piece of our national and historical heritage for their own personal gain. It disgusts me to think that people like this exist and are willing to tread over the common man, this country, and OUR national heritage just to make a quick buck. Well Mr. Coop, it seems I am not the only one. Peter Johnson." Peter Johnson
26/09/2011 "How can these immortal words belong to one man? They need to be there for all to use not just someone who decides he wants to OWN them, pure greed if you ask me!" Nick Smith
26/09/2011 "Surely the trademark has been given erroneously - Mr Coop is not the originator of the phrase and it was in use commercially by many others prior to his use? This is very sloppy work by whoever registers trademarks, I do hope they will be held to account."
26/09/2011 "Wow, this....creature seems to be of the same species as the one that put a copyright on the song "Happy Birthday' in the U.S. a few years ago. "
26/09/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On should remain in the public domain." Laura Lahert
26/09/2011 "This was done out of greed. The slogan is from wartime and should be available to all." Judith Gray
26/09/2011 "KEEP CALM and SIGN THE PETITION."
26/09/2011 "Can't believe Mark Coop was allowed to register the trade mark given the age of the poster and the fact he clearly did not have the original idea to reproduce the image. "
26/09/2011 "'Keep calm and carry on' is an iconic British saying and I believe that it should not be trademarked. "
26/09/2011 "Carry on "
26/09/2011 "This is a poster that should belong to the public sphere, and just because a man has made money off it does not mean he owns it. "
26/09/2011 "ridiculous!"
26/09/2011 "Who does he think he is, The words are historic he does not own them,they belong to the people who fought for us......" Tony Roberts
26/09/2011 "This is simply unjust, and ought to be punishable by law."
26/09/2011 "The Intellectual Property Office shouldnt have granted this trade mark."
26/09/2011 "What next Trademark "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" can someone please get a grip saying should not be trademarked we all use them and they are part of our history."
26/09/2011 "No one but the Crown should be able to copyright or trademark this phrase or the poster. For that matter, I thought that part of any money collected the copies of this poster that I've seen for sale had to be paid either to the government or veteran associations."
26/09/2011 "I have never come across an act of pure selfish greed as bad as this in my life ! Mark coop you are a pathetic individual. Ian C."
26/09/2011 "Mark Coop is a greedy prat, he has taken a familiar and recognised phrase and is making money from it. Fair game, he can do that, but to initiate a claim and take control of this to prevent anyone else is unacceptable. If Mark Coop considers himself a 'true' entrepeneur, then perhaps he should trade mark a slogan that he has created himself and not one created over 60 years ago. But that would take real expertise and not underhand deciet. We were printing T-shirts for mark Coop in 2006, he admitted to us that the reason he could use the slogan was that the trademark had expired and anybody could use it." Debbie Birch
26/09/2011 "What a revolting little creep, Keep calm and trounce the Coop!" Sharon Anderson
26/09/2011 "He's one of those people I'd love to punch in the face.."
26/09/2011 "I like to think Mark Coops balls are breaking right now!!!! Should be really painful to see his business compromised like this the tw@t! Just like the other businesses he tried to ruin! "
26/09/2011 "Keep going justice shall be yours!!"
26/09/2011 "Three cheers for Mary and Stuart Manley at Barter Books in Northumberland, who first brought Keep Calm to the public attention -- but did NOT try to grab all the profit for themselves! Greedy people who try to shove others out of the way are against everything that Keep Calm represents."
26/09/2011 "Mark Coop you suck."
26/09/2011 ""This belongs to the people not to one individual.""
26/09/2011 "What a frivolous trademark! Hope this is overturned quickly. Keep Calm and Don't Blink. "
26/09/2011 "Very Cheeky." S. Grant
26/09/2011 "Keep it public."
27/09/2011 "Mark Coop has no soul. "
27/09/2011 "Astonishingly arrogant and outrageous."
27/09/2011 "This phrase belongs to all of us, not to one selfish, money grabbing man."
27/09/2011 "And I thought that greedy, arrogant SOBs were, for the most part, denizens of this side of the pond. (BP execs excepted.) Carry on the fight. This is outrageous."
27/09/2011 "Now that's just bad form." Abalyn McMullen
27/09/2011 "Yet another obscene abuse of trademark law to stifle competition. How someone can so brazenly steal from the public domain and sleep at night is just beyond me."
27/09/2011 "This phrase belongs to the nation. Make him pay for using it."
27/09/2011 "Mark Coop - you need to take heed of your trademark, which wasn't your idea in the first place."
27/09/2011 "it deeply saddens me that a person would try to Trade mark this iconic piece of history, out of nothing but sheer greed. " Sharon Adetoro
27/09/2011 "surely this is not possible???????" Mary Breen
27/09/2011 "This poster, with these words belong to us all. How dare someone try and copyright it. If this guys bid goes ahead, I finally despair at everything!"
27/09/2011 "STOP THIS SNIVELING GREEDY B**RD. HE IS A PARASITE. HE SHOULD MAKE UP HIS OWN PHRASE ALONG THE LINE OF: I'M A SNEAKY UNDERHAND F*R"
27/09/2011 "What an idiot thinking no one would notice him doing this lol "
27/09/2011 "This sums up our current commitments in the world and all the fallout as a result rule Britannia and keep calm and always carry on."
27/09/2011 "Agree with you entirely! "
27/09/2011 "Amazing, didnt create the wording , font or lay out but found it in a book. I see no hard work or soul in that. Whats next, the union flag? It should go back to crown copyright or public domain."
27/09/2011 "This is despicable"
27/09/2011 "No way should this be allowed to be copyrighted, it belongs to Britian not one man"
27/09/2011 "I remember reading of the finding of the poster by Barter Books. The image became an istant icon around the world, spawning innumerable parodies, it clearly belongs to no one person. I wholeheartedly oppose Mark Coop's attempt to claim ownership. He neither created 'Keep Calm' nor did he buy the rights from any existing rightsholder. The phrase, created for and on behalf of the people of Great Britain clearly remains their property, not Mark Coop's. "
27/09/2011 "The rights to Keep Calm and Carry On should remain in the public domain and not be to the advantage of one individual."
27/09/2011 "shouldnt be copywritten we should all be allowed to use this saying be british and proud of it"
27/09/2011 "This is rampant capitalism gone mad. "
27/09/2011 "I wish you all the success in your campaign."
27/09/2011 "If anyone owns the copyright/trademark, its the successors to the War Department/Ministry of Information."
27/09/2011 "There is no doubt that this trademark should NEVER be granted." John King
27/09/2011 "This is history and under no circumstances should be the property of someone who only wants to capitalise and make a profit from it. GREEDY GREEDY MAN!" Susan Legg
27/09/2011 "This words are historic..no way should they belong to one person..they belong to Great Britain ."
27/09/2011 "There is always someone who is ruled by greed:( Hang your head in shame Mr. Coop. Linda, Expat Gold Coast, Australia" Linda Wright
28/09/2011 "Simply NOT British! Flog the man!"
28/09/2011 "Such an icon should never be capitalised upon."
28/09/2011 "it belongs to the people of Great Britain and no individual. let us use it as we please without having to pay some geezer."
28/09/2011 "Who does this bloke think he is. What a nerve."
28/09/2011 "This is an outrage of the highest order. "
28/09/2011 "KEEP it FREE and CARRY ON! :)"
28/09/2011 "I cannot believe that this has been allowed to be trade marked. Coop should be ashamed of himself. " Adam Lewis
28/09/2011 "This should really not belong exclusively to anyone except either the designer or Barter Books but certainly not Mark Coop who is just cashing in. He had no creative input nor did he discover the slogan. "
28/09/2011 "this guy has no right to be on the throne. he did not come up with the slogan. he was not there when it was made originally. he has NO understanding of its meaning. he just wants the cash. this slogan is an institution and all proceeds should go to victims of war if anyone!! hope england stands up to this!!"
28/09/2011 "Typical of today's greedy, 'the world owes me a living' society. Its not all about you Mark Coop."
28/09/2011 "this is a government product. Why does this individual think he has the right to capitalise on this? surely business has already done enough harm to the public sector recently. "
28/09/2011 "Mr Coop's actions run contrary to the spirit of the very image he is trying to keep as his own; how can he not see the incongruity of his actions? "
28/09/2011 "This belongs to all British people and was used widely before this chancer came along. "
28/09/2011 "How can iconic words such as these which were part of the great war be trademarked? It's absurd. If it is allowed then surely all searches for keep calm and carry on will be linked to that website. It will be taken away from what it has stood by for many years!!! "
28/09/2011 "Did the tax payer not pay for this saying during the war This Guy is just out to make a quick ££££ is he going to tell Tesco/John Lewis/Thousands of Seaside shops to stop selling" Mark Smith
28/09/2011 "Hands off ! Go & make up your own slogan Mark."
28/09/2011 "People with no creativity or moral fibre seem to do well these days. " Peter Bracher
28/09/2011 ""I think they're jumping on the back of essentially what I came up with" He actually said that. Can you believe it? 72 years ago that phrase was created, before he was even born. What an absolute parasite this man is, trying to steal something that belongs to the British public, and make money off it. How he was even granted copyright over this phrase in the first place is beyond me."
28/09/2011 "This phrase is part of our British history. It belongs to all of the people of Britain not just one individual. Please ensure that it remains this way."
29/09/2011 "I only took hold of the Keep Calm meme this year... I've created a few parodies for my own fun, and that's what they are - "for my own fun". I don't make a buck. I make a few jokes and hopefully others get the joke and laugh too. People have been subverting recognisable names, brands, images for humour for years - and someone wants to stop that because he wants to own it? That's sad. Let's just keep this where it's supposed to be now: FUN."
29/09/2011 "What a disgrace Mr. Coop is. The very best of luck to you in overturning the EU Trademark. "
29/09/2011 "This EU copyright should clearly not have been granted - especially after it had been refused in the UK. It's obvious that insufficient searching was conducted. Not only should the copyright be revoked but also this should lead to a review of how huge entities like the EU can even grant EU wide copyright on anything without the unanimous approval of each and every country's copyright office in the EU." Patrick Powers
29/09/2011 "It's a shame that such a slogan of support and unity has been hijacked for one man's greed"
29/09/2011 "Even over here in Australia I am disgusted at this little upstart's effort. However, in the meaning of "Keep Calm and Carry On", I shan't be buying any of his products. Given this was a Government Poster although not used, can't the Govt get their power of authority to use back on it?"
29/09/2011 "This man has no moral compass. Good luck overturning the EU ruling."
29/09/2011 "Together we defeated Hitler, and together we can defeat Mark Coop!" Simon Beal
29/09/2011 "Habing just read an article in the Telegraph online I feel compelled to support this campaign and help fight for the 'little man' who continually gets trodden down by wealthy businessmen who have no regard for heritage or others."
29/09/2011 "Thank good that the Mark Coop's of this world are in the minority! I can't see him having a sense of community! BTW I think Barter Books in Alnwick is a little piece of heaven of earth! Such a lovely place and so many cosy little corners to sit with a good book! Id recommend a visit if you are ever in that neck of the words." Bea Brunton
29/09/2011 "This guy is despicable and so is the IPO for giving him the trademark. They are saying that anything can be trademarked once it's in the public domain. That's not how it works. Public domain means no one owns it anymore. That would be like saying that once a book or a piece of music enters the public domain, anyone can copyright it again as their own. Can I own all of Beethoven's music? I bet I could make a killing in royalties. Now, if he wants to trademark his business name, that's one thing. He wants his business to be the only one using that name. Fine. But he can't trademark the phrase itself and keep other people from printing and selling it. Especially when others were doing it long before him, and he copied it from them. It's not like he even found an original himself."
29/09/2011 "Good luck with this campaign. It's appalling that someone can trade-mark this phrase, and it shows yet more EU idiocy!"
29/09/2011 "A complete cheek!"
29/09/2011 "As long as the Manley's Keep Calm and Carry On they'll be fine; Mr Coop will see sense, I'm sure...."
29/09/2011 "I am 65 (just retired), my wife is German and live in Germany. I am too young to have fought in WWII but this poster was printed at a time when the UK along with its allies from other lands were fighting to their last men against Hitler's arrogant and inhuman dictatorship. Whether in Britain or in Europe Mr Coop is only 'free' today to make his enterprise because of those people and their lands that commited every resource they had, life included. I too have nothing against business ideas and in fact promote the sense of good but FAIR businesses. One might say business is never fair but fairness is not found in fighting a war either! Mr Coop is clearly jumping on the 'make a fast buck' bandwagon with no respect for the business community he is in. His 'idea' has clearly come from 'his' business community that was 'free' to operate. By taking that freedom away Mr Coop becomes simply just another little Hitler to destroy!!"
29/09/2011 "Having read about this dreadful little man and his attempt to trademark something that symbolises the British spirit in our darkest hour in today's Daily Telegraph one can assume that had he been around in those times he would of been a Quisling! Disgraceful behaviour! "
29/09/2011 "Great article in The Telegraph today, I hope you get lots of names on the petition as a result! Good luck."
29/09/2011 "Too much of this going on. I don't see how you can trademark for your sole use something that has been around since the 1940s! Something for which this person had no intellectual input whatsoever!!"
29/09/2011 "this belongs to the nation not one person"
29/09/2011 "Shame on you, you money grabbing wastrel"
29/09/2011 "If the phrase "belongs" to anyone it is surely the UK government, which in turn governs on behalf of the people, i.e. us. Another daft EU decision which should be overturned at the earliest opportunity."
29/09/2011 " How absurd that a businessman should try to make money out of the slogan "Keep calm and carry on". I can remember it being used in my school in the 1960s. My mother would use it at home if something extraordinary happened in the news. She told me it was a common expression in the 1940s, especially during the war if there was bad news. Will this businessman start trying to monopolise other expressions from the rich treasures of English literature? It's like someone trying to impose a trademark on quotations such as "To be or not to be". So, each time the play is performed Mr Coop has to paid a fee when ever the prince utters the immortal words. It's daft. Typical of the EU, though. Just another example of bossy bureaucrats believing they know what is best for Britain and trying to bully us. Now if Mr Coop had tried to get a trademark on an expression such as "Koop kelm und crabby gone" .... fine. Had he thought of it, it would be his invention, and he could make the application. Unfortunately, he has not the creative spirit to come up with a new slogan all of his own. This petition must succeed."
29/09/2011 "How can something in common usage be trademarked by someone that didn't create it?"
29/09/2011 "My personal opinion of Mark Coop is simple. He should be shot as a traitor. At the very least, he should lose his right to live in England and call himself English. He is quite simply a greedy opportunist with no morals and this granting of an EU trademark to him should be overturned. Once again, we have a clear visual of why we as a country should pass a law enabling us to ignore some of the redtape foisted upon us by Brussels."
29/09/2011 "Quite clearly the design and phrase used in the works _were_ crown copyright and are now public domain. Good luck to Mr Coop and everyone else selling this design, but it is clearly not fair that he can register this trademark, and based on my understanding, it's not legal either."
29/09/2011 "After reading a statement from Mark Coop himself saying he has only stopped people selling 'tat'! I think to myself 'what right does this man have to dictate whether people buy tat or not'!! Also I question his honesty about ownership of a 'original wartime poster'. Original maybe that he bought one from an original owner and copied it. This man is a money making machine who seems to even label food products with the slogan. ie shortbread! If that is not cashing in on an iconic wartime memory then I don't know what is! He is quite laughable, as well as selfish and greedy. Like to see him Keep Calm and Carry On when his takings go down and he has to 'ration' himself. "
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 29/09/2011 "What is cheap tat? If Mark Coop is refering to inferior Keep Calm products then he should take a good look at his own stock as it certainly IS NOT endorsed by Barter Books which means that it can only be counterfeit. His statement that he owns an original poster has been proven to be a lie and false. There are only two original posters outside of the National archives. One owned by myself and one owned by Barter Books. Mr Coop continues to use the Keep Calm image purchased from Barter Book which is slightly different from the original."
29/09/2011 "WE HAVE BEEN SELLING THIS SLOGAN/IMAGE FOR OVER 4 YEARS!"
29/09/2011 "Keep Calm, and sign the petition!"
29/09/2011 "How dare a company go to the eu and register a ww2 british poster and then try and stop all the small business's trading even though they have been selling these products for much longer than he has! grrrrrrrrrrr!!"
29/09/2011 "this poster belongs to England !!" Dean Scott
29/09/2011 "Cynical attempt to steal something which has effectively been in the public domain since it's rediscovery in 2000."
29/09/2011 "We need to fight this EU issued "right" - the poster this man has isn't even a copy of the original, it is a copy of the Barter Books one that he has reproduced. Nobody disputes his right to sell his merchandise but for him to be allowed to stop others from doing so, including Barter Books, is simply disgusting!" Kerstin Pearce
29/09/2011 "It's a bit of a cheap trick to try and hijack phrases that have, quite clearly, prior and extensive usage in the public domain. I applaud the forbearance and patience of the original poster owner. "
29/09/2011 "Historic phrases, and phrases that remain in common use, should not and must not be trade-marked."
29/09/2011 "The nostalgia market is very big business nowadays, this could be the thin end of the wedge. Perhaps I should go out and register 'we shall fight them on the beaches' quickly to stop anyone else using it..... It's the exclusivity on iconic slogans and phrases which have been in common usage which gives me a problem. Limiting exclusivity to a narrow range of products would appear to be the workable compromise "
29/09/2011 "Mr Coop was not the creator of this phrase, nor was he in charge of the Government office that commissioned it... He may choose to call his action 'good business' but maybe he hasn't realised that an awful lot of us will see it as pure greed of the kind that puts him in the same bracket with unethical claimers of Parliamentary expenses and the financial whizz-kids who have probably scuppered our financial stability for generations. The sooner the EU decision is rescinded the better."
29/09/2011 "Not everything is for sale; not everything is there to make money. Particularly not things you've nicked."
29/09/2011 "Mark Coop, can I suggest you use your loaf and create something original yourself if you want to make money rather than resorting to parasitism."
29/09/2011 ">:("
29/09/2011 "Free phrases!"
29/09/2011 "Stop the opportunistic chancer exploiting AND STEALING others ideas!"
29/09/2011 "KBO and win the fight!"
29/09/2011 "I spent my childhood in Barter Books, and bought my reproduction poster from them for an affordable, and certainly not greedy, price. It is hanging proudly above my head while signing this petition. "
29/09/2011 "This is a joke."
29/09/2011 "I work at Barter Books, what can I say other than please support this e-petition!"
29/09/2011 "Perhaps it is time for the Government to trademark the English language before some keen entrepreneur does it."
29/09/2011 "Outrageous behaviour Mr Coop - you are so in the wrong. I can pretty much bear witness to the poster's rediscovery at Barter Books as my sister-in-law was working there at the time."
29/09/2011 "What a cheek this man has - Captain Mainwaring would know how to deal with him!"
29/09/2011 "How on earth one person can claim trademark on something which belongs to Britain. As a Britisher I feel to sue him for claiming trademark which belong to us. "
29/09/2011 "I'm not British but support your efforts."
29/09/2011 "INSANE"
29/09/2011 "What a grubby little man Mark Coop is !"
29/09/2011 "This man Mark Coop appears to be the sort of disreputable second rate person who attemtts to pass himself off as an entrepeneur - using other peoples ideas for his own un merited benefit. If he had an ounce of decency he would withdraw his patent - but don't hold your breath." JOHN KEITH
29/09/2011 "What right has he to trademark a phrase and piece of history? I would like to see any profit that he has made from this removed from him and handed to the Poppy Appeal, and an investigation into what the European Trademark body were thinking."
29/09/2011 "I think it is entirely unethical, maybe even immoral, to trademark a piece of national heritage for purely personal financial gain. Any profit should be confiscated and donated to a appropriate and relevant charitable body. I am also curious as to the entitlement of a European TM commission to grant such a monopoly, where in Great Britain it had previously been denied?"
29/09/2011 "Such a British staple should not be trademarked by a greedy person who is the whole of 36! It's just not cricket!"
29/09/2011 "The granting EU trademark/Copyright must be invalid - since layout and typeface etc form 'power' of the well known and existing image on whatever item 'coop' applies it to to create a product, if he used a different color or typeface, no crown, different spacing he would not sell much, if he tried this with a BA, Mars, Unilever, Kraft, Virgin L'Oreal image, etc, he would learnt IP lessons the hard way ..... Even Stelios knows his limits with this sort of thing!! "
29/09/2011 "NO!............end of!"
30/09/2011 "We need to set up an account so people can donate money to help fight this. Stuart & Mary - Barter Books set up a paypal account or something so we can donate and help you get the funds to fight this!"
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 30/09/2011 "Very good suggestion, thankyou but the funding to fight this has been very kindly provided already by Trade Mark Direct and the application to overturn the trademark has now been submitted. It may take 4 months for the outcome. I will update everyone by email once it has been received. The signatures on this site will be used to support the existing application and they will also be reserved for future use to help protect Keep Calm as other trademark vultures still lurk in the background. Thanks again for your suggestion."
30/09/2011 "The orginal artist should have copyright, but since the work was contracted for the government, it lays with them. "
30/09/2011 "Totally agree with your campaign, well done, lets oust Mr Coop! Keeping Calm and Carrying on."
30/09/2011 "Well done its a total traversty"
30/09/2011 "QUOTE ..... " Furthermore he has never attempted to (nor would or indeed could) stop people from selling goods with this phrase that he does not already sell or that they were selling before him. Mark is not trying to be greedy - quite the contrary; he is simply trying to protect his investment of considerable time and money from people who are producing poor-quality copies of items that he is already selling. His commitment to quality and value for money is something that a lot of retailers should take note of! ... " Mark is trying to protect his investment - don't the other traders/suppliers have a right to protect their time and investments also? Poor quality copies - in his opinion they may be 'poor quality', if the public wants to buy them they should be able to. Given that so many shops stock these items, it should be in the hands of the shopper which items THEY want to buy and not be berated for chosing items from another supplier. All strength to this campaign - Keep Calm and Carry On!!"
30/09/2011 "Hands off our heritage!" Julia Llewellyn-Roberts
30/09/2011 "Any person registering and /or claiming copyright should at the very least produce strong evidence that he/she originated the work. To take public domain work and copyright is, to my mind, a form of theft from the person who originated the work, even if that person is not known." John Llewellyn-Roberts
30/09/2011 "Incredible. What makes him think he should have rights over this? Surely, if anybody, it actually belongs to HM Government? Just because he has an 'original' poster doesn't make it his to trademark. He didn't think of it, it wasn't his original idea. Get a grip man. I'm sure you'll do enough business off the back of it and those who fought to keep this country free."
30/09/2011 "Mr Coop - you should hang your head in shame! This is about more than money and protecting your own interests."
30/09/2011 "He did not come up with the phrase. I understand that ephrase is now out of copyright. The phrase belongs to the nation as a whole. He should definitely not be allowed to have a monopoly on it. "
30/09/2011 "I cannot believe that after being rejected the trademark in the UK - this greedy man has gone to the EU to get it there instead! This phrase does not belong to him - and this trademark needs to be reversed. "
30/09/2011 "Disgusting! Save the poster!"
30/09/2011 "How is it possible to trademark some thing you didn't even come up with. The man is a disgrace."
30/09/2011 "So this creep wants to dictate to the British people how and from where they may obtain items bearing this salutary phrase. Wasn't WW2 fought to prevent somebody dictating to us? Is he a descendant of A. Hitler? P. Ward" Peter Ward
30/09/2011 "Just disgraceful that Mark Coop has tried to monopolise the business in this unscrupulous way. I do hope that everyone boycotts his products!"
30/09/2011 "Clearly this man saw how much this iconic phrase has been used to market a number of items from mugs, tea towels, posters and wants a cut of the profits. How did he first come across this phrase if it were not for those marketing products?"
30/09/2011 "Preserve the Bulldog spirit!"
30/09/2011 "Just for once may common sense win out on this... Keep Calm and Carry On should be seen as a gift from the British people to everyone... it is an artifact that has been paid for with many British lives... that it could be "owned" by any particular individual at this point in time is both ridiculous and offensive."
30/09/2011 "What a Plonker"
30/09/2011 "Keep calm and party on! All joking apart good campaign chaps Love from Rosie the Rivetor xx"
30/09/2011 "This man is a national disgrace & goes against everything the war time poster was meant to represent. " James McIntyre
30/09/2011 "Keep calm etc belongs to the British public and anyone can use it."
30/09/2011 "I have no qualms about Mr Coop producing items with this image on. It is, after all, an image from Britain's history, but that phrase in itself is where my complaint lies. It's part of Britain's history, not his. Noone has the right to copyright something that belongs to the country as a whole. If I were in the position of being able to produce 'merchandise' like that, I would, but I wouldn't dream of trying to stop others from doing the same. 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' It's a phrase that fits the situation, but it was also written by one man, though I don't see the church slapping a copyright in the face of everyone who uses it on a mug just because it's Christian." Nicola Biswell
30/09/2011 "There is no copyright to be had in a WW2 poster; they are all Crown Copyright which expires after 50 years, so any one who is claiming to own copyright is misguided/insane/insert expletive of choice. Whether he owns one or not has nothing to do with this. If he does, he alone has the right to reproduce that picture, but anyone else can typeset the phrase to their hearts content. Which is, incidentally, what Barter Books did. What's more, he goes on about how he tells everyone the history of the poster, but he's got it wrong. They were meant for use in the case of intense bombing, but that didn't happen as predicted at the start of the war. And the other two posters were so badly received, that the third ones were never displayed. So he can put that in his smug pipe and smoke it."
	RESPONSE BY: Steve (Original poster owner) on 30/09/2011 "Well put. It is believed that the public found the posters patronising and that is the reason why they were not popular. Mr Coop sees the poster just as a money making device but as a wartime enthusiast and collector I see the poster as part of our history. Keep Calm was part of series of posters created over 70 years ago by our government at a time of war. Whether or not it was used makes not difference to that fact. "
30/09/2011 "Keep it free, keep it British! "
30/09/2011 "This phrase is part of our national heritage and belongs to us all. To try to corner it as Mr Coop is doing is a despicable act."
30/09/2011 "This trademark claim is outrageous! My wife's father - still alive - was one of The Few (Hurricane, not Spits) - he didn't go through all that so that some cheapskate profiteer could get away with things like this."
30/09/2011 "if he wants to sell the name then fine.. but DON'T claim the rights to it!! "
30/09/2011 "I am not a friend of Mark Coop and have never met him. However, having read all of these comments: 1) there are many personal and offensive comments here. He has not committed a serious crime and as such don't attack him as if he has done so 2) this is not a petition. a petition is a list of names - I don't see such a list! 3) I wouldn't be surprised if the people behind this website have not entered comments many 4) there are a lot of sour grapes here. He had the initiative to build a business around this brand and as he states in various newspaper articles without him the brand would not have grown to where it is today "
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 30/09/2011 "Whether or not you are a friend of Mr Coop, your wording bears a striking similarity to previous posts by his friends and family! 1) No-one is accusing Mr Coop of committing a crime, serious or otherwise. 2) This is indeed a petition, currently standing at around 630 votes against his trade mark. 3) The comments are entirely those of visitors to the site, including the few, like yours, in support of Mr Coop. Not a single one, apart from responses, has been entered by myself or anyone from wartimeposters. 4) 'Sour grapes' and his 'building this brand' are straight from the Coop misinformation file - I'm surprised you did not include 'hard work' too! Quite apart from ignoring the six years that Barter Books put in to establish 'Keep Calm' as a worldwide iconic image long before Mr Coop had even heard of it and jumped on the bandwaggon, it also ignores the 'hard work' of many others such as YesNoMaybe, MacLaggan-Smith, Pedlars, Dean Cards, Ebury Books, The Coaster Co., the V&A, to name but a few. Rather than sour grapes, it simply reflects anger at his mis-use of the trade mark system."
30/09/2011 "The british public are united against a common enemy once again! If we could beat Hitler with this slogan then Mr Coop should be very very afraid!"
30/09/2011 "Shameful!"
30/09/2011 "I find the copyrighting of a slice of our nation's heritage wholly abhorrent, unethical and morally removed from the spirit within which the message was conceived. It is to be shared, it belongs to us all and should be cherished thus. I fully support this petition and will gladly share it with friends, family and beyond so that it can be successful. Mr Coop should hang his head in shame. Very. Poor. Show. "
01/10/2011 "Another manifestation of the greedy, selfish opportunism which seems to be gaining considerable ground in this country. From the "protesters" looting shops in London and Birmingham, through City dealers continuing to demand astronomical bonuses while the rest of the country suffers from the recession they were instrumental in causing, to MPs who considered it perfectly acceptable to augment their salaries with questionable expense claims. Keep it up Mr Coop, there are lots of others like you living in this country now. A pity you weren't around in the early 40s, you'd have been a "spiv"! Ironic though, that it was the EU that should reach such a nonsensical decision in respect of memorabilia from the war in which Britain, and its Empire, stood alone against the Axis. "
01/10/2011 "Good Luck :)" Will Howell
01/10/2011 "This man is beneath contempt. Shame on him. Another reason why Britain should not be part of the EU."
01/10/2011 "Keep fighting comrades."
01/10/2011 "The slogan is not his. This amounts to nothing more than theft. It was wrong to award the trademark in the first place, it would be wrong not to overturn it." Rebecca Scott
01/10/2011 "How ridiculous - this trademark should be revoked immediately!"
01/10/2011 "Keep calm and carry on. Do not let this person stop you, just keep calm and carry on. Indeed, let's organise a Keep calm and carry on day. Let us put "Keep calm and carry on" on all our websites and letter headings. Let's see if he is prepared to sue us all! Kevin Crowe, Loch Croispol "Keep Calm and Carry On" Bookshop, Restaurant & Gallery, Durness, Scotland."
01/10/2011 "Matters not if he owns the original, he did not coin the phrase."
01/10/2011 "Is it even possible to legally trademark something that is in the public domain? Is there an individual, group, or organization that can take legal action? -- Ralph"
01/10/2011 "Greed and mendacity are so offensive. Had it not been for Stuart and Mary Manley of Barter Books, the poster and its history would have remained in obscurity. Copyright indeed. Ridiculous! "
01/10/2011 "As a Canadian whose father was posted to England during WWII in the in RHLI, I am offended when someone tries to trademark something that epitomizes the British spirit during that period."
01/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On belongs to Barter Books...it seems certain traits like ethics, morals, tradition and truth would occur to Mr. Coop. There are those of us, even here in the U.S.A. know where they first heard/saw this poster post WWII: BARTER BOOKS. Long before Mr. Coop came on the scene. Shame on you Mr. Coop, copyright tradition and patriotism? I think not."
01/10/2011 "If this trademarks is allowed to stand, a national boycott of the “owner” is in order. Coop will not be allowed to carry on!"
01/10/2011 "Is it not shameful to try to cash in on the intellectual work of another?"
01/10/2011 "Iconic Britain. No person can possibly claim the rights! That would be like an individual copywriting "Mind the Gap.""
01/10/2011 "I can't believe the UK trademark office would grant a monopoly on a government produced poster paid for by UK taxpayers." James Lawton
01/10/2011 "I assuredly do not want this poster trademarked by Mark Coop or any other person. As the younger sister of seven (7) brothers, five ( 5 ) of whom served on active duty during WWII . And later a 6th brother served in Germany the Army of Occupation. When the 7th and, youngest brother , turned 18 years of age in 1945 he, too, joined the military. All are now deceased but two of those men had 30 year military careers and requested that they be buried in their military uniforms. Helen Pitts Arnn"
01/10/2011 "nasty, greedy attempt to usurp part of the British national heritage. For all of these years the other two holders have been generous in their use, by others, of the posters. Believe were it not for the potential money that Koop sees he could make from this poster, he would never have tried to trademark it. Adding insult to injury, he buys one from Barter Books, then has the nerve to remove their name from it, and hence, trademark it. What a scam artist! "
01/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On. A phrase meant to support the spirits of the British people in a time of great crisis. Now an individual wishes to turn that freely given phrase of hope, a phrase that has worldwide meaning in these troubled times as well, into a fenced lot of his own making. In addition to this overt grab at a phrase clearly in the public domain (will he try to trademark "V-E day" next? or "the Blitz"?) he also clearly intends to damage the livelihood of all those who, in good faith, have made useful and entertaining products with this freely offered phrase originated by the British government, not an effort of any creativity by the individual seeking t0 trademark it. Reject this trademark, please. It is a crass attack against the public and common good. "
01/10/2011 "This is the first that i have heard of this sitution. Im discusted that someone has been allowed to trademark this and is now refusing to cancel it. This is just pure selfish greed in my opinion."
01/10/2011 "I take my hat off to anyone young or nearly young, who, in this economic climate starts a business, especially a home grown British business. At 52 I am certainly too young to have experienced WW1 or WW2. I believe that as this slogan has been in the public domain after Crown copyright ceased, that it should remain so. Anyone should beable to use it. I think the negative comments towards Mark Coop are not in the spirit of being British and certainly not very Christian. However, I hope the EU (and they have a lot to answer to) will be forced to overturn it. Especially as the UK wouldn't sanction such an application. My understanding of copyright law is, that to use something without the permission of the person they received it from it unlawful. Isn't that what Mark did? I wish Mark success in his business, if the quality of his products are good then he could be, but there is plenty of room for others - healthy competition!!! I support all businesses out there that wish to use this slogan, it is part of our heritage and who we are."
01/10/2011 "this is an iconic sight that belongs to Britain and not one individual looking to make a quick buck......"
01/10/2011 "Surely one man shouldn't be able to trade mark a government poster or saying, this is just greed, if his products were good enough they would stand up to competition without these tactics. What makes the phrase popular at the moment is the accessibility of it, he will only serve to ruin that for himself and everyone else by limiting the supply."
01/10/2011 "Mr. Churchill would not appreciate this at all." Gary Belt
01/10/2011 "Loves how NO-ONE has noticed or mentioned the spelling mistake! You all bang on about history and heritage but no-one is bothered about the English language?! What has this world come to? Keep calm and bake cakes ;)"
01/10/2011 "I presume the wartime spirit it engendered in him was that of the Spiv rather than the Dunkirk variety. " Guy Farrish
01/10/2011 "If anything, this phrase should be regarded as being in the public domain, or as property of history. Much like "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead." Iconic phrases are not the property of individuals. This is a very sneaky and greedy attempt to rob this phrase from history. Damn the trademark and full speed ahead." Lee Kirk
01/10/2011 "unabashed profiteering...greed is NOT good"
01/10/2011 "Best of luck to you in your efforts. What he's trying to do is unfair and disgusting."
01/10/2011 "Good luck to you all "
01/10/2011 "good advice beautifully displayed, that is 'owned' by everyone, let us keep it that way!"
01/10/2011 "I think one way of challenging this 'trademark' is for someone who has no money or assets to print and sell copies of the poster. Let Mark spend his money taking the person to court. There's no risk of prison time - only a fine and expenses which can't be collected from a homeless 'front' person . In other words, ignore his trademark. Bob"
01/10/2011 "I'm in the US and fully support keeping this wonderful piece of WWII history in the public domain. Mr. Coop had no part in creating the phrase, did not discover the poster, copied his photos from a poster he bought from people who had researched their legal right to reproduce the poster they owned, and is not the original copyright holder. It's difficult to understand why he or anyone would believe he should have the right to stop other people from using it."
01/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On belongs to the nation and is shared by allies around the world. Keep Calm and Carry On without Mr. Coop's hubris. " Helen Crow
01/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On is out of Crown Copyright and in the public domain. Nobody should be allowed to trademark it."
01/10/2011 "I saw the article in the Daily Telegraph. I'm appalled at this bloke - who does he think he is? It's insulting to those who lived through the war (my parents were children when the Second World War broke out) and more offensive still to the memory of those who died fighting to preserve our freedom, and their families. Get real - it's not a "hate campaign" but a "don't rip other people off" campaign. It's not his original slogan or artwork - he's nicked it, albeit he may have paid money to do so, so it is not his to protect. He's like those people who set up websites using famous people's names before others knew how to do it, then held them to ransom saying they had to cough up a huge amount of dosh to use their own name as a domain name." Sarah Chandler
02/10/2011 "What right does this bozo have to lay claim to sole ownership of a public treasure ? Is there not original copyright in this to precede any registration of it as a trademark. June S"
02/10/2011 "Carry on, Stuart!"
02/10/2011 "Make Mark Coop a human shield! Somewhere, maybe Somalia? Iraq might still work. Where are we using drones? I know, let's send Coop to Yemen!"
02/10/2011 "I was furious to hear about this appropriation. What silliness! "
02/10/2011 "I fully support Mary and Stuart in all the endeavours."
02/10/2011 "It's not about exploiting the phrase, it's about honouring the significance and heritage, of the era which it originates from."
02/10/2011 "I agree with your case and actions. Occasionally, a piece of typography does impact upon the public and generates many pastiches, often skilful and/or witty but, in their existence, happily paying tribute to the typographer/designer responsible for the original. For an individual or commercial concern only then to seek ownership is pretty damn tawdry. It's well known that one may not copyright a title but it could be strongly argued that 'Keep Calm' is a title indissoluble from its own typography in a way which might preclude it from ownership on this basis. Equally, though, this might then be taken to be a logotype which can, of course, be subject to ownership and control, though seeking removing it from the public domain would be a rare but particularly reprehensible act. It is to be hoped that true common sense prevails and Trade Mark Direct's efforts are ultimately successful." Richard Burton
02/10/2011 "I have known this icon for quite a few years as I am a regular visitor of Barter Books, where it was originally found by the owners. It's a piece of our history and no-one has a right to trademark it. Shame on you Mark Coop. "
02/10/2011 "It is quite disgusting and unbelievable that a trademark could be given for a war time poster for which the copyright has expired. I doubt if Mark Coop is capable of feeling ashamed but those who work for him certainly should be."
02/10/2011 "I remember all manner of posters that kept up our spirits during the war - I am into my 80s - and think it is right that such things belong to us all - whether at the time they were seen or not, half designed, thrown away, retreived, it meant that those involved with creating them were thinking about our heritage - our future "
02/10/2011 "How can someone own what someone else said? Keep Calm and Protest On!!!! "
02/10/2011 "It's daft that anyone could trademark a simple phrase like this, especially one that they themselves did not create."
02/10/2011 "Eu quero participar desde o Brasil! O que vem dos Stuart´s é muito bom! Eu apoio a causa!!"
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 02/10/2011 "Translated, our friend say's --- I want to participate from Brazil! What Stuart is doing is very good! I support the cause"
02/10/2011 "When will this type of behavior stop? How many phrases can they trademark because they are common? This is absurd, are they going to trademark Good Morning also?"
03/10/2011 "The blokes a complete melon. How could he miss the point SO FAR about the whole thing so wildly as to think it was his right to trademark it just so he could make money. I'm absolutely gobsmacked. "
03/10/2011 "Good on you, Barter Books! The phrase belongs to the nation, not a company. "
03/10/2011 "The most blatant and silly band-wagoneering ever."
03/10/2011 "Offensive to all those who suffered and died during the war to try and make money out of it, Outrageous!!!"
03/10/2011 "Dear Sir/Madam The trademarking of this fantastic wartime poster belongs to the people, not a businessman. Despite his claims to be the owner this is very clearly a wartime PUBLIC information poster not a private one and since it is out of copyright it belongs to the public. yours faithfully lee Roberts"
03/10/2011 "How can 1 person feel they can claim the right to trade mark an item that they haven't created? This was a government issued poster, so surely any rights should be held by the government. The slogan and design, although over 70 years old makes me feel proud to be British, and it's such a shame that the heritage and pleasure that it brings to so many should be in anyway restricted. Reading the disclaimer below made me realise that I am not angry, just disappointed." Stephen Hunt
03/10/2011 "Reverse this money-grubbing nonsense!"
03/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On belongs to the UK, not to one individual."
03/10/2011 "Thank God these posters never had to be used, as the all-too-likely invasion didn't happen. Keep this quintessentially British advice public!"
03/10/2011 "What on Earth gives this man the right to trademark the phrase? He did not invent it, he did not write it, he did not create it - he merely copied it from someone else. If he were the originator of the poster, he would, indeed have the right to protect his mind's creation; but such is not the case. For shame."
03/10/2011 "This is a campaign I am proud to support"
03/10/2011 "Barter Books behaved with generosity and integrity! They did the right thing. They are also the best second hand book shop I have ever been to."
03/10/2011 "This man must be stopped" Naomi Clugston
03/10/2011 "This selfish man needs to be stopped! How can he be allowed to get away with trademarking a common phrase and a part of our culture? Where does one draw the line? Can I trademark the phrase 'good morning'?!"
03/10/2011 " If it were not for b****s, life woild be exceeding boring :-))))"
03/10/2011 "What a cheek! How dare he! I shop at Barter Books!"
03/10/2011 "You can see the slogan he has already registered here . . . http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ohim?ohimnum=E9455619 You can also search for others he has applied for at this same website. "
03/10/2011 "KEEP VIGILANT & CARRY ON THE BARTER BATTLE! It's part of our national identity, not just one person's business."
03/10/2011 "A disgraceful opportunistic effort. The copyright laws were never intended for this."
03/10/2011 "You have no right to copyright this wartime poster."
04/10/2011 " Right -- "Keep Calm" is in the public domain & not subject to trademark, copyright, patent, or any other greed-driven malarkey. What a bunch of hooey."
04/10/2011 "I am concerned at the way this has been acquired and used for purely personal gain. Original ideas should be protected, but this clearly is not his own work. The image is a reminder of British spirit at the time, and something to celebrate in this new century. It should remain, as it always was, public. If it does not, it creates a very worrying precedent for other material. Where does it stop?"
04/10/2011 "As this poster was designed for the Government in wartime, it belongs to the Nation; not an individual."
04/10/2011 "yet another example of commercial greed gnawing away at our nations heritage ! GRRR !!!!!"
04/10/2011 "It was created by the goverment for use by the people with Crown Copyright and as the copyright has expired, how can it be re-registered? It is in the public domain now surely?!?"
04/10/2011 "As pointed out by Trade Market Direct : "the words are too widely used for one person to own the exclusive rights." Nuff said. Keep Calm and Carry On."
04/10/2011 "please don't grant this trademark - madness"
04/10/2011 "Surely Mark Coop's products will stand on their own and sell well if they are quality items as he states without needing this trademark. Let everyone who wishes, produce KCCO goods correctly attributed, whether tat or quality, and the customer will choose the quality he/she wants to buy. Then everyone can continue to benefit. Why disturb a situation that has worked well for so long for many traders, often in business before Mr Coop started. The hostility he has aroused must tell him something. " Katherine Chylak
04/10/2011 "This is a piece of our history and should remain so and not to be used for one man's profit."
04/10/2011 "It would be crazy to let this happen, fight on :)" Jamie Light
05/10/2011 "I think this is a disgrace, to own something that isn't yours in the first place - if he had designed it, then fair enough - but as he hasn't, this slogan should be available for all to use!!!"
05/10/2011 "can't trademark an institution"
05/10/2011 "Keep calm is something i have heard from my early childhood ( i'm in my 40's ) . IT is NOT a trademark it is an iconic & very well used phrase . I have used it on many occaisions when dealing with accidents & injuries to poor unfortunates . Was Mr. Coop around when this was first used & printed ?? if not where does he claim the right to trademark the phrase ??"
05/10/2011 "Maybe Mr Coop should come up with his own ideas http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C1VjjliDOwM/Tn8w9RY4YiI/AAAAAAAADPU/6TVbXxqQFOw/s1600/Picture+55.png "
05/10/2011 "The phrase is part of our history and anyone should be free to use it as they wish. This man is a copier trying to stop other copiers - it's not as if he came up with the slogan. Let him use it, but others should be free to too!"
05/10/2011 "Totally agree, ridiculous situation! "
05/10/2011 "Coop by name only - how odd to think he should have any monopoly on this at all."
05/10/2011 "I agree that Mark Coop's actions are extremely offensive to those who thought they were fighting for a world of freedom, democracy and fairness. I wonder if Coop will be suing the politicians and journalists who have been making free in recent days with the slogan. I doubt he has the gall." GEOFFREY STEVENS
05/10/2011 "According to his website contact details his email address is markcoop@gmail.com - Enjoy."
05/10/2011 "this has belonged to us all for many years already, you can't just change that on a whim." Beryl Lovett
06/10/2011 "I think an unfair precedent will be set if we allow lapsed Crown Copyrights to be trademarked. After all it was all of our ancestor taxpayers who funded the Ministry Of Informations efforts. I am sure the E.U.'s grant of a Trade Mark on this was done without knowledge of the widespread and popular circulation of this M.O.I. design and, in my opinion, was wrong. It was openly believed to be a lapsed copyright and in the public domain. Finally if copyrights, trade marks etc are to be re-invoked on these MOI wartime posters, shouldn't the Imperial War Museum be the beneficiary - they seem to be the 'keepers' of a lot of Crown Copyright material from the Second World War and I am sure that there restoration and storage fees on this kind of thing must be very expensive."
06/10/2011 "My late father did active service in the RAF during WW2. The sacrifices of the generation which stood up to Hitler should not be degraded by greed." Kieran Fitzsimons
06/10/2011 "This guy is a serious a**hole! Perhaps he was bullied at school."
06/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Trademark On doesn't have quite the same ring to it. "
06/10/2011 "I can't believe that anyone would stoop to such a low level of commercial under-handedness. We must stop this NOW. "Keep Calm" is not a trade-mark, it is part of our heritage and part of our future."
06/10/2011 "This is as British as fish & chips, pie & mash and jellied eels."
06/10/2011 "we will fight them on the internet......"
06/10/2011 "good luck and keep on with your campaign"
06/10/2011 " So much of Great britain, has been sold off, ridiculed, apologised for and pushed out of sight. This phrase /poster represents the best of the Breat British attitude. If it was ever to be trade marked it should be a trade mark belonging to the citizens of Great Britain as it is ours, ALL of ours! It is us!"
07/10/2011 "I speak for Lord Dodo in these matters as well as myself. Your country and your freedom of speech need YOU! points finger" Rebecca Jay
07/10/2011 "This is madness how can anyone try to take ownership of a piece of our history? "
07/10/2011 "It is intrinsically wrong to attempt to own a phrase that was coined to inspire the British people in times of darkness. It goes against Britishness itself. I hope that Mark Coop sees sense and withdraws this shameful action." Rebecca Hoskins
07/10/2011 "Keep Calm is not a Trade Mark. Totally agree!"
07/10/2011 "This is a very very silly abuse of intellectual property law, and should be stopped."
07/10/2011 "Simply ridiculous that this chancer is even allowed the opportunity to claim any rights over this. Perhaps he should be tried for treason?"
07/10/2011 "This is an iconic phrase from WW2 which belongs to the public. "
07/10/2011 "this belongs to us as a nation not some numpty out for financial gain!!! " Jeff Filler
07/10/2011 "This must be kept in the public domain, no individual has the right to ownership!"
07/10/2011 "Keep calm and petition on!"
07/10/2011 "Once the original copyright has run out it should belong to everyone, not some opportunist with an eye to making a fast buck."
08/10/2011 "Someone needs to give this little upstart an old-fashioned 'good hiding'. If his parents had done so when he was a kid then he might have learned some good manners."
08/10/2011 "Cannot stand grasping, thieving opportunists "
08/10/2011 "Heinous attempt to steal part of our heritage!" Mike Moffatt
08/10/2011 "When ever I saw the vintage poster It evoked my grandad parents who lived and fought during the time the poster originated, but have lately noticed it everywhere cushions, duvet covers etc and feel its taking away the spirit in which this poster was intended and turning it in to a trend, which most of the people buying into this latest "must have" Wont even know of its true history which is very sad, we have already lost so much of what it means to be british, let us at least keep our british nostalgia. Stop mark coop from doing this!!!!"
08/10/2011 "Keep calm (or not!) but in any case... CARRY ON!!! Best of luck ;D"
09/10/2011 "No single person can or should own an icon." Judith Dixon
09/10/2011 "I hope this works, it's a disgrace. will pass the link out :)"
09/10/2011 "How can you copyright a saying that has been in the public domain for decades? " Gina Moreland
09/10/2011 "I am looking at my 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster (purchased from Barter Books many years ago - long before Mr Coop discovered it, I'm sure!) as I type this message. It has pride of place in my office and is a constant source of inspiration. I hope Mr Coop's silly campaign of greed and selfishness backfires hideously. " Tania Taylor
09/10/2011 "I have been using this poster as my profile picture on Twitter and Facebook for months. I downloaded it from Google Images after the August riots when it seemed to be an appropriate message and had no idea there was any copyright issue. I have seen posters and metal plates and mugs with this on at tourist destinations and it never occurred to me that such an iconic symbol of Wartime Britain could be anything but free for all to enjoy. How ironic that a war fought for freedom should now have one of its symbols ransomed by a greedy profiteer. Please don't let this man get away with it. Keep Calm and Carry On belongs to the people!"
09/10/2011 "Confused as to how this can have come about?" Jonathan Forrest
09/10/2011 "I love this slogan and hold it to my heart every day and it helps get me through the rough times. My day is always brightened upon seeing this slogan anywhere. No one man should own this, it belongs to the whole world and anyone who wishes to hold it dear. "
10/10/2011 "I have this phrase tattooed on my forearm. Does he expect me to pay him for that? Does he want my arm? "
10/10/2011 "It is shameful and embarrassing that the initial trademark application was ever considered seriously. Making money off historical messaging is not bad in and of itself, but claiming a monopoly on history certainly is."
10/10/2011 "Barter Books should be congratulated on the sucess of their business, if anybody would have had the right to trade mark the phrase at the present time it would have been them. They were generous enough not to try and do so. The idea that anybody else could come along at a later date and trademark something so obvoiusly already in the public domain is quite ridiculous."
10/10/2011 "I am a new small business, really only a sole trader, and have had items removed from Ebay after complaints from Mark Coop's company. I have contacted their legal department but have received nothing in response to my request for clarification on their position. I advised them that I believed the wartime poster to be Public Domain and that I needed clarification from them before continuing my sales or adapting my products, I even enquired about mutual existence arrangements but they haven't had the decency to reply. I hold a very very low opinion of Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd, my personal view is that registering a community trademark on someone elses intellectual property rights is nothing more than theft." Andrew Proudman
11/10/2011 "After seeing the evidence that this trademark was granted on the work of someone else, any honorable Trademark Commission will properly repeal its issuance."
11/10/2011 "The trademarking of KC&CO is an outrage. Mark Cool's actions in this matter are selfish evil, repugnant and reprehensible. His attempts to rewrite history, his lies and excuses are, likewise, repugnant and reprehensible. Words fail me: how exactly do you convince someone who has gone so far wrong that you just do not do this sort of thing for your own personal enrichment. What next? Stealing ice-creams from babies? Hop low can you stoop, Mark?"
11/10/2011 "No way words like this should be a registered trademark. Overturn this decision now. "
11/10/2011 "Greedy scumbag." Christopher Richardson
11/10/2011 "Outrageous especially when negatively affecting so many business and individuals! It goes back to WARTIME for goodness' sake! (Was he even born?!)" Alice Price
11/10/2011 "I'm disgusted with this, shame on you Mark! "
11/10/2011 "Another example of where the EU got it wrong?"
11/10/2011 "Try coming up with an original concept, using your imagination and skill, and trademark that."
12/10/2011 "Mr Coop - Give Up and Go Away. "
12/10/2011 "Ludicrous....Keep Calm and have some Common Sense!!!"
13/10/2011 "Up with the British fighting spirit! Love the philosophy behind this poster and this campaign. Wishing you all the best from your Australian supporters, we'll keep spreading the word."
15/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On should be kept in the public domain"
16/10/2011 "Mark Coop's "history" page is a screed of self-serving hypocrisy. He has simply lifted someone else's work and duplicated the design and is now crying about people who don't build their own brand! This is the pickpocket who calls the police because someone has stolen the wallets he collected on a days "work". He claims that other people's products are inferior - fine, let him compete on the basis of quality not some bogus monopoly granted by some idiot in an office somewhere. Has anyone else ever been granted a trademark on something they didn't invent, didn't design, and didn't own?!" Thomas Worthington
17/10/2011 "It is fascinating to hear the history of this famous phrase, and upsetting to hear about how it has been 'hijacked' for commercial use. It seems to be on absolutely everywhere in the past few years, on anything and everything and even altered in colour and phrasing. Not only is it tiresome as a concept but it turns out it's disrespectful to an iconic piece of wartime history. Good luck with the campaign. " Dee Barron
18/10/2011 "Mark Coop is demonstrably a greedy, avaricious jerk. Irony is not his strong suit. He is trading on the sacrifice of a generation that he is unfit to shine their shoes. From shared hardships of WWII to the selfish materialism of Mark Coop--what a commentary on this man. Disgusting."
18/10/2011 "I'd like to share the charming reply I received from Mark Coop. I sent it to ******@gmail.com His reply: ******************************************** Do you honestly think I care or am bothered about your opinion in any way? I wish the very same back to you, Worthless, pointless, ignorant coward. Go fight a proper cause. Don't bother replying to this either as it will go straight to my spam box. I'm laughing at you. Bye! ;-))))) ******************************************** Maybe he SHOULD care. I sent a letter to John Lewis partnership telling them that I am BOYCOTTING John Lewis, Peter Jones & Waitrose until they stop enriching the greedy, grasping Mark Coop by stocking Keep Calm & Carry On Ltd. products."
18/10/2011 "Another disgusting example of people being too lazy to make there money on there own. This was originally Crown Copyright and if anyone should own it, the Crown should!!"
18/10/2011 "If this wartime slogan belongs to anyone, it belongs to the British people. Stuart and Mary Manley generously brought it back to life again without copyrighting it, thereby leaving it in the public domain where it rightfully belongs . Hands off, Mark Coop! ! "
19/10/2011 "As an American i can only compare this to an individual laying claim to the Declaration Of Independance. It is not for one person but for all."
19/10/2011 " Not everything can be distilled into a simple money matter. There's enough money for everyone. Step back, see the bigger picture, be creative, relax. Or "Keep calm and carry on.""
19/10/2011 "This is a saying that properly belongs in the public domain. Keep it free!"
19/10/2011 "Please act to keep this poster in the public domain. There is no intellectual property rights for this phrase and trade marking it is counter to the public interest."
20/10/2011 "How can some one today literally steal this war time treasure and profit from it. I could understand if the profits went to war vets but this is not the case and the British Government and or the heirs of the originator of the war time campaign should step in. This is a travesty! In essence t Mr. Coop should never have been allowed to trademark this saying and image in the first place."
20/10/2011 "So, essentially, following this logic, if I were to find (say) the last pressing of a Beatles record in my attic I would be able to copyright it, reproduce it and deny Sir Paul (or any of the Beatles' estates) any profit from my sales? Is this a new precedent? Maybe I've missed the point."
20/10/2011 "Ridiculous that something so well known can be copyrighted by someone who doesn't own it!"
20/10/2011 "This trademark should be revoked, it was not allowed under the UK Trademarking law, then it shouldn't have been allowed under the EU." Amanda McGregor
20/10/2011 "Mark Coop, you should be ashamed of yourself!" Sarah Ross
21/10/2011 "Mark Coop is taking something that's been embraced by the British public and trying to privatise it. It's money grubbers like him who got us into the mess which means so many of us need to "Keep Calm and Carry On"!"
21/10/2011 "With regards to this petition I sincerely hope we all can keep calm and carry on ."
23/10/2011 "Absolutely outrageous to trademark this phrase. "
23/10/2011 "Lets have our traditional saying back. It belongs to us not a company who wants to make money out of it!!!"
23/10/2011 "I thought that if it could be proved that the "Original" was held by someone else ie the Govt printer and it pre dated anything he has, then they hold the copyright and therefore anyone reproducing this is liable. does this now mean anyone can buy something and then try and copyright it just to make money, if so then nothing is safe. "
24/10/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry On guys!"
24/10/2011 "This is a 'Love Campaign' - Hang in there"
25/10/2011 "CRUSH COOP AND CARRY ON !!!!" Hugo Reeve
25/10/2011 "How can a loyal British subject think of trademarking trademarking his Monarch's words?!?"
25/10/2011 "My grandma used to say this to me all the time - and she lived through 2 Worls Wars! To me, this is a part of our heritage - can history be copyrighted?" Beverley Hughes
25/10/2011 "Carry on!"
25/10/2011 "Our cultural and social heritage should be protected from greedy people. All support should be given to keep with image in the public domain. " Mary Key
25/10/2011 "What a chancer ...."
25/10/2011 "Good luck, support you all the way."
25/10/2011 "This has become too well known a saying to copyright, and this man is not the person who re-discovered the poster. "
25/10/2011 "keep calm and keep it for everyone"
25/10/2011 "This belongs to the British people, and no one person should be allowed to copyright it. This is nothing but an opportunistic sham."
25/10/2011 "Keep calm and carry on. One can't trademark such an iconic line - therefor: Keep calm and spread the word!"
26/10/2011 "Keep Calm & keep this phrase in the public domain so that everyone and anyone who wishes to work hard can make some money with it. " Jemma Sharrock
26/10/2011 "Best of luck with your campaign, it certainly doesn't seem right to trade mark such an icon." Sue Taylor
26/10/2011 "I support the wish to keep this iconic poster in the public domain where it rightfully belongs."
26/10/2011 "This is our nation's rallying call and should be free to encourage each of us in our times of national emergencies"
28/10/2011 "Keep it public!"
29/10/2011 "Thank you for organising this - Good luck! "
30/10/2011 "Mark Cooper fits the old definition of a cynic - "Someone who knows the price of everything - and the value of nothing." Kieran Enright"
30/10/2011 "There's always some p**** who has to make money out of anything,how can you trademark something you had nothing to do with creating in the first place?"
30/10/2011 "The nerve!!!!"
30/10/2011 "I believe that this is an iconic phase of Britain in wartime and thus shouldn't be copyrighted and marketed like a cheap catch-phrase. It is not in the spirit of the poster or the people whom the poster represents."
31/10/2011 "How can you copyright something that you didnt come up with.....your fake!!"
31/10/2011 "100% support for this - no unscrupulous person can pinch our slogan!"
31/10/2011 "Beautifully historic, and not to be used to make someone that bit richer." Rebecca Kemp
31/10/2011 "Save English Heritage for its people not for Profit"
31/10/2011 "For shame!"
01/11/2011 "Keep Calm and Battle On"
01/11/2011 "This should never have been allowed to happen in the first place!!"
02/11/2011 "This is in the public domain. Keep calm and don't trademark."
02/11/2011 "Harumph! The cheeky sod."
02/11/2011 "Keep calm everyone! " Alice Meads
02/11/2011 "Continue on with your valiant efforts to keep someone from making money on an icon of historical & years past."
02/11/2011 "Glad to hear about this campaign as I was disgusted to hear that this person had sneaked to Europe to get the trademark - having been turned down on his first application in the UK (quite rightly!) and having stolen the idea from the poster found by his former employer. He should not be allowed to profit from this - these words are still widely in use in the public domain and were before he trademarked them. It is like trying to trademark "We will fight them on the beaches". NO I say! "
02/11/2011 "I have had a fridge magnet with this phrase on for more than 10 years - it is a phrase that has been in common usage in my family for a long time (as the "olds" were all in the war), and lots of other people use it too long before this man claimed it. Also there were a lot of items with this slogan on when we got the magnet - tea towels and all sorts. So he can't say he thought of that idea because people all around the country probably have things in their houses from before he thought of this scheme!"
02/11/2011 "I think it is immoral for an individual to try to claim, for his personal benefit, the copyright of something he has not himself created. If anyone at all has any right to the copyright, it is an arm of the UK government which created it, an arm which protects the memory of the era - the Imperial War Museum. I suspect they would prefer that it remains out of copyright and therefore available to all and sundry to use and celebrate as they see fit."
02/11/2011 "How can someone trademark the work of someone else? This is completely looney. I assert copyright of my comments."
03/11/2011 "Certainly NOT a Trademark! Good Luck with your campaign."
07/11/2011 "It seems very unreasonable to trademark a phrase that has been in the public domain for over 50 years. If you allow this to happen, where will it stop? Will people be allowed to trademark nursery rhymes? Old adages? Shakespeare?"
08/11/2011 "Can't believe he's trying to trademark this - VIVA LA RESISTANCE!" Tom King
11/11/2011 "I find it shocking that he has been allowed to even do this?"
11/11/2011 "This is Britians history and rememberance, how dare this man think he can own this outright and making millions. He should stop this right now if he has any respect for this country & everyone in it. "
11/11/2011 "National Treasures should not be trademarked."
11/11/2011 "So glad someone has decided to do this, you have my backing all the way!"
13/11/2011 "yes keep up the compaign it is not a trade mark bout time we fought for the rights against greed "
17/11/2011 "I have been issued a trade mark breach, for selling canvases that were obtained 100% legally"
17/11/2011 "How can he be so greedy stealing something that is not his and even saying that he came up with the business when in fact the business was already there.. If for example "GUCCI" did not trademark their name and I did that would be so wrong for me to sell their products. It makes me sick how they let someone trademark a poster that can not be copyrighted. If credit needs to go anywhere it should have been barter books and not him. This is our heritage and belongs to everyone in ENGLAND."
17/11/2011 "I agree this needs to be removed and put back so that everybody can use this. Our country has been going through hard times. Let us be proud of something our country had. Thank you."
17/11/2011 "Everybody should be allowed to sell this!"
17/11/2011 "Everybody should be allowed to sell this.........!!!!!!"
17/11/2011 "we have had nothing but trouble with this joke of a company, we sell artwork on ebay, we have been done twice by his company, for selling this artwork. "
17/11/2011 "property of the country and it's citizens... end of story..."
18/11/2011 " Might using Copyleft or Share-alike have prevented this? Good luck with the challenge."
20/11/2011 "Its all about money!!!The trademark system is rediculous!!!"
22/11/2011 "Let us keep Keep Calm"
22/11/2011 "Let's help firstthebanker sell his last 9 posters!!!"
23/11/2011 "What a idiot, that is part of britain not for one person to own and make money.. Give it back to us"
23/11/2011 "He is well out of order"
23/11/2011 "Surely it's Mark Coop who has committed an illegality? To register something that's out of copyright, for personal gain, should not be allowed. Keep up the campaign."
23/11/2011 "Who does this fool think he is, it belongs to everyone."
23/11/2011 "This cannot be a trademark as they were printed by the British goverment during world war 2, the crown is a British goverment symbol it is on post boxes, the old style telephone boxes etc, if anyone owns the trademark it is them."
25/11/2011 ":)"
26/11/2011 "Great site! Thanks for creating it. Keep going that way."
26/11/2011 "KEEP-CALM-is-not-a-TRADE-MARK KEEP IT THAT WAY"
28/11/2011 "Lets keep the history of this wonderful poster and not let one greedy man own the rights to it."
28/11/2011 "can i trade mark something offensive about mark coop? what a disgrace that man is. "
29/11/2011 "Support from Canada!"
30/11/2011 "This phrase embodies all the most positive attributes of our nation, especially the art of having a stiff upper lip with a smile. Keep it for everyone!"
30/11/2011 "This is a far too widely known and used phrase to possibly be trademarked. The attempt by one person to trademark it is a cynical money making ploy which will bring them no credit and less business."
30/11/2011 "As co-author of a published work entitled Keep Calm and Carry On (my co-author is Jonathan Forrest), I/ we are deeply disappointed that Mr.Coop has seen fit to attempt to deny us and many others of our right to reinvigorate this fine example of British resolve in times of national hardship. It is ironic that we spoke directly to Mr.Coop at the time of first writing our publication and he expressed no interest whatsoever in either working with us or making mention of any spurious copyright or intellectual property concerns. It would no doubt pain him to be reminded !! Good luck with the campaign."
30/11/2011 " there still is a lot of great in this country"
30/11/2011 "Popular expressions, whether we think them silly such as "Have a nice day" are part of our culture. As such they should be available to everyone, and belong only to a moment in time. To take such phrases out of the public domain is petty, greedy, and demeans us all. The issuance of such trademarks should be challenged and overturned."
30/11/2011 "je suis citoyen français, et je trouve honteux de faire du commerce et de l'argent, avec la mémoire du peuple britannique. " Pierre Seillier
30/11/2011 "Unless this unscrupulous Mr. Coop actually came up with the initial slogan and poster design himself, I'm not sure what makes him think that his use of "Keep Calm and Carry On" trumps anyone else's."
30/11/2011 "It's simple, it belongs to us, the public to use as we want. He didn't design it or come up with the idea so what right does he have to it? if it's allowed to continue what else will be copyrighted as a result. Phrases such as ' I love you' perhaps."
30/11/2011 "This slogan is part of our history and belongs to all of us."
30/11/2011 "Why should an individual be able to appropriate a public phrase? He didn't create it, write it, just wants to claim it as his personal property. Surely that's not what the trademark law was intended to do."
30/11/2011 "It appears that England is losing everything at the moment. For Gods sake let us keep an iconic slogan. "
30/11/2011 "I live in Australia and the local adult education providers used the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" in a recent campaign about depression! It's ridiculous to try and trade phrases that are part of the common heritage of thousands of English speakers, and an abuse of the trademark process to try and "buy up" trade mark rights and then prosecute alleged infringements. I hope that Mr Coop fails, as he deserves."
30/11/2011 "Keep Calm and Crush Mark Coop"
30/11/2011 "The saying "Keep Calm and Carry On" belongs to all of us. "
01/12/2011 "This does not surprise me. Please see the book Freedom of Expression by Kembrew McLeod. This started out as a prank. Good Luck to you over there."
01/12/2011 "I think we should all just keep calm and carry on and ignore any trademark. What are they gonna do? Throw us all in jail? m"
01/12/2011 "The phrase is not original with Mr. Coop, which he admits. He shouldn't own exclusive rights to it for marketing purposes. By his logic one could trademark one of Shakespeare's phrases, perhaps by extension preventing use of it."
01/12/2011 "Amazing selfishness, nerve, and almost certainly a claim based on a lie. It is almost unbelievable that such a trademark would actually be issued by an obviously incompetent or more politely, an ignorant agency, but one trusted to understand what the phrase "public domain" means."
01/12/2011 "I think that this is a disgrace, and fully support this e-petition"
01/12/2011 "Yet another seller here suffering lower product placement as a punishment by eBay because of this man and his greed. I count myself fortunate that I have another brand of my own to fall back on but many were not so lucky and will find themselves deprived of their livelihood for life by eBay who are as guilty as Mr Coop himself through their cowardice by refusing to fight for their customers! "
01/12/2011 "Keep Calm and Don't Threaten Us!"
01/12/2011 "This was and is in the public domain. No one should be able to copyright public domain material."
01/12/2011 "'Keep Calm' epitomises the British bulldog spirit which helped the country through wartime. It is unthinkable that this iconic statement should be used as a TradeMark. Good luck with the campaign. Stevie Fox."
02/12/2011 "I am appalled that the government office would even consider giving a trademark for such an historic and significant phrase. Is "Mind the Gap" next? "
02/12/2011 "One man cannot own the PUBLIC domain"
03/12/2011 "The whole business of Trademarking is getting out of hand especially when it is applied to such designs. Will road traffic signs be next? Will be required to pay a royalty (tax) to read them?"
04/12/2011 "This is like trying to copyright a Churchill wartime speech!"
04/12/2011 "The phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" originated from the British Government, it belongs to the whole country. No one individual should be allowed to trademark it"
04/12/2011 "This has been in the public domain for years. He got his trademark from some European legislation, just another reason to leave the European Union. This poster was used when we were trying to stop Hitler create his own version of a united Europe. How's that for ironic."
04/12/2011 "OMB i love this saying. i use it for everything. save this saying ;D <3"
04/12/2011 "I see this man supplies John Lewis. If this is the type of person that they deal with then I will not be using them again."
04/12/2011 "I am a sole trader on ebay, trying to make something of a living for me and my family. I also work in the public sector and my job is under threat, so have been working very hard to make ebay a success. I have done very well with the 'Keep Calm' designs, and have of course invested in more stock from UK wholesalers. I had 2 of my ebay listing reported and ended tonight, and have chosen to end the others that could be affected rather than have this unscrupulous man cause further damage to my business. Merry Christmas - Bah Humbug! "
05/12/2011 "This slogan belongs to the British people as a whole - it is disgraceful that this man has been allowed to trademark history. I am pleased to see that people are fighting against this ridiculous decision."
05/12/2011 "There are thousands of quotes and they need to remain free to be quotes. Let quotes be free to live!;;;;;;;;"
05/12/2011 "It is really inappropriate that a businessman, who was not even alive - even in the post-war era - should purloin such an iconic slogan for his own private profit!!"
05/12/2011 "Ridiculous - next someone will want to trademark "your country needs you"!!"
05/12/2011 "It belongs to everyone, and I think it's terrible that this man has done this. It needs to have free use, and recognise that this was something for the whole of the population when it was created."
05/12/2011 "Speaking as a graphic designer I struggle to understand the logic behind asserting this phrase is a trademark. A piece of British cultural history yes, but a trademark? Which trade, exactly?"
06/12/2011 "Please don't make this, an iconic and significant piece of our social history become a private asset to be banked and exploted for personal gain."
06/12/2011 "Asserting copyright to 'Keep Calm and Carry On' is both a selfish act and in any event appropriate. The trademark registration must not be approved."
06/12/2011 "It belongs to the nation. "
06/12/2011 "Sayings that have become part of the English language should not be trademarked! We have loads - Lie back and think of England - Careless Talk Costs Lives - Not Tonight Josephine! I can understand wanting to use one of these sayings within a business, but not to hogg them and prevent everyone else from doing the same. They are part of the public domain!"
07/12/2011 "Of course this should be kept in the public domain. Anyone who knows the story from Barter Books on the discovery of the poster feels this way and until this man gives any proof to back up his claim then it's nothing more than theft. "
07/12/2011 "I'm calm, and I'm carrying on!"
07/12/2011 "Greed should not be encouraged by public processes designed to protect innovation and creation"
07/12/2011 "Allowing a pre-existing artwork such as this to be trademarked sets a precedent. No-one should be allowed to own a trademark on such a thing simply because it has fallen out of copyright. Off with his head!™"
07/12/2011 "The whole thing is ridiculous. Why should one person lay claim to a historical document? The whole claim should definitely be reversed. "
07/12/2011 "More money does not buy better law."
08/12/2011 "Thus iconic message must be kept public, and not used to generate revenue for the greedy !!"
08/12/2011 "Mark Coop should be ashamed of himself. KCACO is such a well loved, iconic phrase that belongs to us all. I'm surprised he felt he needed a trademark, as surely the products with the slogan would sell well anyway, as it is so popular. Pure greed."
08/12/2011 "gods of british culture should be free to any one! "
08/12/2011 "Keep Calm and Carry on..."
09/12/2011 "bull-shit."
09/12/2011 "Keep Calm and Campaign!"
10/12/2011 "The poster is Crown Copyright, if anyone owns it it's the Queen. The clue is at the top of the poster!"
10/12/2011 "Keep calm and have some sense!"
11/12/2011 "Keep Calm and Justice is here."
11/12/2011 "It is disgraceful that someone is able to take advantage of a National Treasure which has been classed as the most important motivational slogan during the Blitz. Amazingly the same people we were fighting against during WW2 have allowed this ignoramus to continue with his trademark which is quite ironic. Hopefully something will be done about this idiot exclusively cashing in on something which belongs to us as right of heritage. Hope he goes bust!"
11/12/2011 "It's not his idea and it has been used long before he was out of nappies. He is not worthy."
12/12/2011 "Quite clearly in the public domain, coop obviously can't deal with competition without resorting to such tactics. Surely this cannot 'Carry On'"
13/12/2011 "I sell keep calm and carry on goods to also earn my living and this is unjust. I have had them removed from ebay. So what about me earning a living. This is a great slogan and there is enough business out there for us all to enjoy. These words were around before my life time and Mr Coops lifetime. This has to be reversed!"
13/12/2011 "Mark Coop is abusing the VERO system, he should not be allowed to continue"
13/12/2011 "After all this time and after all of this support - he is still removing other sellers from ebay........got a problem with the competition Mr Coop?"
13/12/2011 "Unfair exploitation of somebody else's idea and design. Total madness to let him trademark this"
13/12/2011 "I recently bought various items of this merchandise from a reputable and authorised stockist who had sought legal advice regarding this matter. I have now had my listings removed and compliance warnings set against my ebay business account, I have now lost business, and I am out of pocket for items that will simply languish on the shelf until this IPR issue is resolved. The phrase has been in the public domain for a considerable length of time, and features on many TV programmes, etc. Does Mr Coop intend to ban or sue larger organisations for infringement? I am happy to participate in any group action that seeks to have this incorrect (my opinion) overturned."
13/12/2011 "This is a piece of history that belongs to the nation. To try to restrict access and use it for profit is criminal. What happens next? You pay a fee evey time you say "God save the Queen"? "
13/12/2011 "i have had a warning from ebay ,and a poster removed , how can one person make a claim for text mark trade on something that was refused a uk trademark. "
14/12/2011 "had ebay listing removed with the keep calm and carry on logo "
14/12/2011 "Surely this has been in the public domain for so long it's not possible to trademark - it's enough to make you lose your calm!"
14/12/2011 "I simply cannot understand how British law allows this kind of action or permits unscrupulous people to exploit our collective heritage "
14/12/2011 "A great British icon. Should be allowed to be used and reproduced and mashed up. Keep Calm and Carry on."
14/12/2011 "We have been trading on eBay since 2002. We received a VeRO notice for Trademark Breach in August 2011. We had to remove any Keep Calm items from eBay to protect our account, however we have continued to sell the products through every other channel as we do not feel that the claim is valid. "
15/12/2011 "It is very wrong that this unscrupulous person is trying to wilfully damage other legitimate business."
16/12/2011 "I really hope that this will not be allowed to happen. "
16/12/2011 "The trend will be over soon. You're wasting your time trying to trademark this. Get a life."
18/12/2011 "KEEP CALM OR GO HOME"
19/12/2011 "As an American, I sincerely hope my country and Canada does not give a trademark to Mark Coop who, in my humble opinion, is nothing but a selfish, unscrupulous entrepreneur. I think it is ridiculous that people are able to trademark common phrases and thereby stop others from making an honest living. "
20/12/2011 "It's disgusting and morally wrong of this fool to take advantage of something so sentimental and precious in the history of this country, merely for his own selfish financial gain. He should be ashamed of himself! "
20/12/2011 "Another Murdoch in the making I think. He must be stopped from making a mockery of our heritage!"
21/12/2011 "Its disgraceful, but this isnt the first time something like this has happened, there are plenty of similar cases where greedy people have trade marked well known descriptive words or phrases, and then gone on a bit of a rampage having small business shut down, another good example which is a hot topic at the moment are the words shabby chic, a well known phrase used for many years to describe something worn but stylish which has been trademarked in america, the laws regarding trademarking need seriously looking at, descriptive words and phrases in general should not be allowed to be trademarked, a line needs to be drawn somewhere, i am really pleased someone is taking a step up and tackling the issue, lets hope it brings reform."
21/12/2011 "I did originally see the original BBC coverage and had to strongly agree with Mark, as I have a company passing off as Mine. I was messing around making some A2 posters today designing some bespoke versions for friends and family and I decided to delve a little more into the history. So you have another to your list. Just ignore it and Carry on printing your own. "
21/12/2011 "This is ludicrous. I have nothing against a person making money through their own hard work and endeavour but this is like putting a trademark on "don't panic", "nobody move" or any other phrase often used in the english language or films. Keep Calm and Carry On is a phrase NOT a product. I will be using it... a lot. DV Henderson"
22/12/2011 "Having developed the first Keep Calm and Carry On app ( http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/keep-calm.../id393497171?mt=8 ) I believe that the saying should remain public domain. "
23/12/2011 "this is lovely! "
23/12/2011 "'Keep Calm And Carry On', both the phrase and the poster, is a brilliant manifestation of the awesome British stereotype. It shouldn't be used just to make money. I'd shout 'Viva la Resistance' but it isn't very British... God Save the Queen! (and our poster!)"
23/12/2011 "KEEP CALM... not likely... my advise, CARRY ON using it... "
24/12/2011 "Another example of an attempt to steal more of the family silver - this belongs to us all, lets keep it that way!"
25/12/2011 "This guy should be slapped down. Trying to trade mark something in the public domain? Immoral & crazy."
28/12/2011 "Keep Calm and Stand Up for What is RIGHT!"
31/12/2011 "This is Owned by Everybody in the UK"
31/12/2011 "Shocking behaviour by Mr Coop, the poster/slogan belongs to all of us. "
02/01/2012 ""Keep Calm And Carry On" is a great thing and I don't believe it should be trademarked for hipsters or anything for that matter."
03/01/2012 "Hands off our heritage!!"
05/01/2012 "This is a ridiculous trademark application brought by an unscrupulous individual. It is beyond what is considered acceptable behavior among decent people."
05/01/2012 "Something like this can't be copyrighted! It is very famous and far to used now anyway and what makes him think he can copyright it? he needs to keep calm and MOVE ON"
05/01/2012 "The phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" should remain in the public domain. I do not support granting trademark rights to an individual or organization who had nothing whatsoever to do with the creation of the original phrase and/or poster. Shall I trademark/copyright the act of breathing and thus require every living soul to pay me tithe for that which is their right? I think not!"
06/01/2012 "Keep calm & carry on printing folks ;-)"
08/01/2012 "mark coop is a big ************* and needs to be brought down. Its not his it belongs to the british public no argument accepted ever."
09/01/2012 "I object to the underhanded and sneaky way that Mark Coop has tried to trademark a piece of British history. He should be ashamed of himself and should realise how cheap it makes him look."
09/01/2012 ""trademarking" is all very well but this is a ridiculous use of it."
11/01/2012 "public domain should be public domain! go keep calm campaign!"
12/01/2012 "It's stunts like this that give intellectual property laws a bad name. It's perfectly obvious that Mr. Coop is not the originator of the phrase "Keep calm and carry on," and has no basis to lay claim to any trademark thereof. And to be blunt, I attach less blame to Mr. Coop's obvious attempt to make a quick buck than I do to the idiot bureaucrat who granted it to him."
12/01/2012 "Times have changed and the internet allows people to take ideas and enhance / modify or develop them. Whilst Mark should be allowed to use and develop the image - he should be able to restrict others from doing the same, either in original form - or is its other uses."
15/01/2012 "Appalled by Mr Coops money grabbing tactics."
15/01/2012 "So many businesses will suffer if this logo is trademarked - not just the retailers but the companies who have made this iconic logo available to all."
15/01/2012 "Keep it free for everyone to use as they wish."
16/01/2012 "Keep Calm, and keep calm public!"
16/01/2012 "It seems a total disgrace that someone who has put no original thought whatsoever into the creation of a design/slogan should be able to register it in Europe and prevent free access to it for other businesses who were making a legitimate income from it and not seeking to do so at the expense or freedom of others. The slogan is apt since it should be applied to everyone who is marching against Coop to prevent this charade from continuing. Coop clearly has no shame but he could maintain some dignity by giving up this puerile fight to defend the indefensible."
16/01/2012 "Keep Calm And Don't Steal Our History, Sir! "
17/01/2012 "The poster should remain public property and used by as many people as would like to. Good luck in the campaign."
17/01/2012 "Seems absurd that a trademark registration would have been awarded in the first place. Here's hoping it is revoked."
17/01/2012 "KEEP CALM AND LEAVE US ALONE"
21/01/2012 "Enough profiteering from an affectionate national ethos. Anyone who tries to own this clearly does not understand it."
21/01/2012 "This is a piece of British history and no one person should have the right to prevent others using the phrase / image. How something which has always been in the public domain can be trademarked by an individual is beyond me. It's all about greed. "
22/01/2012 "Unbelievable. "
22/01/2012 "Please do not take something that was never yours to begin with."
24/01/2012 "What about the crown picture used in the poster? Can anyone use that too? "
25/01/2012 "As a long established WW2 Civilian Re-enactor I give my time freely to schools and at events to keep knowledge of the 1940's era and history 'alive'. It's been great seeing this poster entering into popular consciousness. It's also fun and refreshing seeing it being used freely, (thanks to the owners of the two known copies having the right 'Spirit'!), by small businesses all over the UK."
	RESPONSE BY: Admin on 26/01/2012 "Thanks for your support & comments. Keep up the good work keeping the 40's era alive. Good show!"
27/01/2012 "The Keep Calm slogan was designed for the British public in wartime. Though we are at peace the slogan should still be available to the British public, not owned by one person. "
27/01/2012 "I wish you well in your campaign !"
27/01/2012 "To me this is simple. If you invent something new it's completely fair that you get to trademark / patent it. If you have copied something then it is not yours to trademark / patent. Keep Calm originally belonged to the government and now belongs to everyone."
28/01/2012 "Keep Calm and carry on the fight"
28/01/2012 "this is very annoying how people are just editing this VERY historical poster and it's not good but on your website you have put exactly the same by editing the poster to say KEEP CALM IS NOT A TRADE MARK!"
29/01/2012 "I will use the image regardless,,, stuff them,, Keep Printing and Carry On!!! it belongs to the public,, as does the internet,,, RESIST! the war was faught... lets not allow THE NEW WORLD ORDER SILENT WAR TAKE AWAY YET MORE OF OUR FREEDOM!!!! And Stick Mark Coop in a FEMA camp!!! idiot,,, I bet he is a BIG Manchester United Fan Also!!!"
29/01/2012 "absolutely agree - keep calm is not a trademark its a british icon !!! not owned by any individual but all the people "
30/01/2012 "As an inventor I fully understand the need to protect your intellectual property, however, Mark Coop did not 'invent the expression', 'coin the phrase' - call it what you will. How does he think he has the right, either legally or in any other sense of the word to prevent others from using the iconic image and graphic representation. He will be wanting to trademark the Union jack next ! "
30/01/2012 "I bought a copy of the Keep Calm poster at the Cabinet War Rooms Museum in London. For someone other than the original creator to attempt to hold copyright seems wrong to me. Helen, South Africa. "
30/01/2012 "Keep Calm IS NOT A TRADEMARK!!!"
01/02/2012 "I always beleived that it was in the public domain which meant it was fre for all to use. I can not get my breath that this man can claim copyright on a poster/phrase. Shocked to say the least."
01/02/2012 "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON FIGHTING FOR THIS......."
01/02/2012 "Keep calm... is a piece of history! "
01/02/2012 "Shame on you Mark Coop, shame on you for hi-jacking a national wartime slogan to meet your own unscrupulous desires. You say this is a hate campaign, but I ask you this, how can we help but hate you when we only have your actions to go on? "
02/02/2012 "I saw the "Keep Calm" poster in Barter Books soon after it was discovered. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr Coop has hijacked the discovery in a blatant piece of "business" opportunism that deserves all the boos and hisses from the general public that it has stimulated. If a knighthood can be taken away from a banker, how hard can it be to take away a trademark from a dodgy businessman?"
02/02/2012 "Hands off, this belongs to all of us, it's a piece of history."
03/02/2012 "I think that this is blatant cashing in on the iconic phrase which has been in common use before this ridiculous decision. He does not mention much that UK patent was refused. I hope that very soon this is rectified and anyone can use this phrase"
05/02/2012 "Coop may have been quick and smart to claim a legal copyright (albeit in the EU). However, it reveals a deeply cyncical, greedy, and selfish motivation behind such an action, for it is entirely against the spirit of public community and national patriotism that first evoked the phrase he now seeks to misuse and abuse. Shame on him and his supporters."
05/02/2012 "we will fight them on the beaches."
06/02/2012 "Free what was made for the masses in WW2."
06/02/2012 "KEEP CALM and PETITION ON! How can one person be allowed to trademark something that is not originally theirs? Out right greed, unpatriotic and unconstitutional! Camille from Canada."
08/02/2012 "Disgusting! Anything to make a quick quid these days! I'm 26 and both my grandfathers fought in WWII when this iconic phrase (as well as many others) were put up around the UK to reassure the Great British Public! It is OURS not HIS!"
09/02/2012 "Mark Coop's actions are deplorable. Copyrighting a well used phrase with 70 years of history, that was originally intended for use by the british government... Disgusting. Also, for those of you saying about owing him money if you say it out loud, that's not the case. Copyright only covers specific uses of phrases or images, in this case, printed merchandise and the like."
09/02/2012 "How can this be a trade mark, it's ridiculous. Keep it in the public domain. I'm all for making money but perhaps he should try to have an original idea himself."
09/02/2012 "KEEP CALM IS NOT A TRADEMARK"
09/02/2012 "This is a part of our heritage. It has been admired and become vastly popular since it's dicovery. It should not be trademarked or owned by an individual. It represents the British nation and we should all have the right to use it and reproduce it. If it has to be owned it should belong to the government and any revenues put back into helping our country out of this financial mess."
09/02/2012 "Keep Calm everybody! Common sense will prevail!"
10/02/2012 "It's absurd that the EU could grant a trademark on such a design when it was originally Crown copyright and in the public domain for so long. It's as ridiculous as being able to trademark the shape of a tulip or coffee bean. "
11/02/2012 "you can't copyright an idea you can't trademark history think of your own "
11/02/2012 "Coop is an opportunist !! This slogan belongs to the people of the uk, not this prat!!"
12/02/2012 "I don't mind if people create items with these words on, but I do not think that it should be a trademark. A trademark should be something that someone created themselves, not something that someone else made up 80 years ago. It is a public image and should not be trademarketed"
14/02/2012 "Somethings don't belong to one person. This poster is mankind property already. "
15/02/2012 "This is part of Britain now and should be for us to use and celebrate."
17/02/2012 "How can someone trademark a phrase that was created and used by someone else, long before they realised it was a money making idea. "Keep Calm and Carry On" should be in the public domain."
17/02/2012 "Thanks for some common sense in this matter, its simply not British! TTFN, chin up. Chantelle"
17/02/2012 "This amounts to theft from the Nation. KEEP CALM AND FIGHT ON!"
17/02/2012 "I did lots of research a few years back to investigate whether I could legally create 'Keep Calm and Carry On' posters to sell on places such as ebay. I still have the email I received in 2008 from the Office of Public Sector Information that plainly states "...the posters, "keep calm and carry on" are now out of copyright and may be freely reproduced" It brought in enough trade that I invested in a stock of professionally printed posters in a few different colours. However, since all 'this' has happened I have been barred from selling on ebay for breech of copyright and am left with piles of posters I can do nothing with. So frustrating! Even if this was not the case I would not support this claim to copyright. I could understand it if it was Barter Book or someone with a similar history claiming ownership, however what's happened seems mercenary and mean-spirited."
19/02/2012 "Keep calm was a British public quote from the war, one person or company should not be allowed to stop everybody using this quote, in order to just make money for themselves. Keep it public"
21/02/2012 "It's a bit of a cheek really. I'm setting up my own company and wouldn't dream of trying to claim rights for something that I had not developed!"
22/02/2012 "This is outrageous! Mark Coop should be ashamed of himself. -Washington, DC USA"
22/02/2012 "No one person should uniquely benefit from a statement that was used to help inspire the fantastic British Wartime Spirit. The fact that this one man is as a method of making money only and done so in an underhand way stealing the rights from others is disgusting. May he lose his case!"
23/02/2012 "Mark Coop is nothing more than a common thief. He did not conceive the catch phrase and stole it from the Nation. He was denied copyright in the UK but when this failed duped the EU plebs into granting copyright. I hope he rots in hell."
24/02/2012 "what an absolute disgrace! Mr Coop should be ashamed of himself! Good luck with the campaign"
24/02/2012 "A US Trademark has now been registered by: Registration Date December 6, 2011 Owner (REGISTRANT) Keep Calm and Carry On Ltd. COMPANY UNITED KINGDOM 14-15 The Annexe, Investment House 28 Queens Road, Weybridge Surrey UNITED KINGDOM KT13 9UT US Registration Number: 4066622 I urge anyone who has any interest in making the dispute in any of the 7 listed trademark classes to formally do so with the USPTO: http://estta.uspto.gov/ US Trademark Disputes can be filed online on a PER CLASS basis. We have just filed our dispute in Class 025 and hope others will follow in the additional classes. - Harold Ross"
24/02/2012 "The appropriation for himself via E.U. copyright, is an insult to all who fought for what liberties we have, and to their descendents, the British people. The phrase represents the living spirit of 'John Bull', and since materially 'Keep Calm..' is officially out of Crown Copyright, how can one copyright that which was intended as merely a 'reminder', of what was inherently 'culural' to the people of that time in the first place? Simply not cricket."
25/02/2012 "I support this cause as British Icon it is for all to use and enjoy and not owned by anyone."
26/02/2012 "It belongs to the people not one person .... Keep it going ....give back to all Xx"
28/02/2012 "Mark Coop, what a douchebag"
28/02/2012 "its british heritage not copy right....."
01/03/2012 "We were about to use these words, when I discovered this copyright "issue". It is hard to believe. I am ashamed to say, I live in Surrey. But we are not all greedy."
02/03/2012 "Keep Calm, and Carry On using the image. Is he rich enough to take millions of people around the world to court?"
04/03/2012 "Thank you for the opportunity to complain about this attempted theft. Good luck with the campaign."
05/03/2012 "This should be free for anyone to re produce. the fact that this coop low life is trying to make profit, and prevent others from earning a living is not in the spirit of the original art work at all. He has the nerve to say everyone else is copying him???? He opened his store in 2007! Barter Books have been selling the poster since 2001! Karma will bite him in the arse eventually. "
05/03/2012 "It only takes one person to ruin the fun for all!"
06/03/2012 "Why don't I just trademark the union flag!!"
06/03/2012 "Keep calm and carry on should belong to everyone. Mr Coop would be seen in period the poster came from as a spiv or maybe chancer or even con man, to steel something that belongs to us all. "
07/03/2012 "I also ask that you try and invalidate the trademark in the U.S. which was granted."
09/03/2012 "Why isn't this poster Crown Copyright?"
09/03/2012 "Keep calm and carry on! (Absence of any insignia indicating the phrase might be a registered trade mark; please note. Inaction on the part of the company claiming to own the trademark, which has been notified by using the feedback form on their website http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com, should be construed as admission that this phrase does not constitute a trademark.)"
09/03/2012 "I guess Mr Coop will have to keep calm and carry on when he loses."
09/03/2012 "Surely this original poster is Crown copyright? As this was never published it's in Crown copyright until 2040. This from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_copyright#United_Kingdom The duration of Crown copyright varies depending whether material is published or unpublished. Unpublished material was originally subject to copyright protection in perpetuity. However, the 1988 Act removed this concept from British law. Transitional provisions that apply for 50 years after the entry into force of the 1988 Act provide that no unpublished material will lose its copyright protection until January 1, 2040. New Crown copyright material that is unpublished has copyright protection for 125 years from date of creation. Published Crown copyright material has protection for 50 years from date of publication. Those works protected under Letters Patent have perpetual control of reproduction claimed over them despite being published. Works where copyright is assigned to the Crown by an author are subject to the normal term of protection for that particular type of work, for example life of the author plus 70 years for a literary work."
09/03/2012 "Keep this piece of history free for all!"
09/03/2012 "Keep Calm and No Trademark!"
09/03/2012 "Bring it on. I am not scared of a few, Guardian reading, hummus eating, left wing layabouts. You are all just jealous that you never thought of trademarking the poster for yourselves. Keep Calm and Move On Mr Mark Coop"
09/03/2012 "Bring it on. It'll take more than the deranged ramblings of a few Guardian reading,tofu eating,left wing fools to stop me from making money. You are all clearly disgruntled that none of you had the foresight to trademark the poster. Keep Calm And Jog On Mr Mark Coop"
09/03/2012 "I bought my poster from Barter Books long before Mr Coop started up his business. It is not something to be trademarked. I saw recently that someone turned up with an original at an "Antiques Roadshow" event and was advised by the "expert" that they probably had the only original left in the country. No -- you need to do some more research."
09/03/2012 "Outrageous. How dare he? This belongs to the UK state ie me and 70 million others."
09/03/2012 "A sign of the times."
09/03/2012 "Selfish and greedy; this man is a perfect representation of 21st Century Britain. How different from my Grandfathers generation. Keep up the good work."
09/03/2012 "Ownership of a copy of the original printing is irrelevant to the matter. The only thing that matters is the date of the original printing. Once something is in the public domain, it remains in the public domain. No national registration office has the right to remove anything from the public domain and grant its sole use to anyone. Good for your campaign - please publish what any national registration office has said, if anything, about any intention it may have to remove this from the public domain."
10/03/2012 "This is public domain and should remain public domain. How in the world can something in the public domain be trademarked? This is outragous and stupid. Give us back our public domain!"
11/03/2012 "Seriously??!! Iconic, war-time morale booster which should belong to the people of Great Britain (including my maternal grandparents) and/or be public domain. Ludicrous that Mark Coop thinks he can win this, and folks in the UK should be getting their MP's involved. You know...Lady Karma has a way of sneaking up on people like Mr. Coop, and when she does...things usually don't end well. (just ask Tiger Woods) Greed is not pretty. If this graphic belongs to anyone, it belongs to Barter Books, who are happy to let others use it. I totally agree with those who have highlighted the difference between how people were during the war years and now. Imagine trying to lay claim to something that was designed to help those surviving wartime, that you had no part of and did not even live through. The gall! Carry On the good fight, people. As Winston would say "We Shall Never Surrender"."
12/03/2012 "I love the fact that ordinary people can make their own products using this phrase as a base. As a knitting enthusiast my personal take is "Keep Calm and Carry Yarn". In no way should anyone be allowed to tell us we can't use this."
12/03/2012 "A-typical of some profiteering people these sort of actions should be outlawed and the offenders be made to pay the costs"
12/03/2012 "I wish you all success with this campaign. You have my full support as well as that of my friends...all of whom have been asked to support and sign the petition. Stanley Pearce"
12/03/2012 "This man needs to be stopped from taking away our national heritage and stop him from profting from it. SCUM ......."
13/03/2012 "I do not understand how when Mr.Coop attempted this in the UK and was turned down, europe granted it. This is a very British thing, and should be available to all. As a comparison, would anyone dare copyright the declaration of independance speach Americans say? i dont think so. So i fully endorse this petition!"
13/03/2012 "The poster is a national treasure and should remain so "
14/03/2012 "How can he trademark this? Did he create it back during WW2? It's out of copyright by now!"
15/03/2012 "Property of the Great British public not just one man!"
15/03/2012 "Their attempt to take ownership of this phrase is beyond disgusting! I don't care if they claim to own the trademark, I'll ignore it if I see fit and I suggest everyone else does the same."
18/03/2012 "All I can say is "Keep calm and carry on ... Getting more signatures! James Green"
19/03/2012 "It's incredible to me that anyone would even contemplate such a heinous move as this, let alone carry through with it! I do hope Mr. Coop gets the comeuppance he so richly deserves, & loses his unscrupulous trademark registration!"
19/03/2012 "keep it copyright free!!"
19/03/2012 "Fully agree and support the cause"
20/03/2012 "How can the EU grant a trademark for something that was already in the public domain - the fact Mark Coop has established a business using this poster is very entrprenneurial , but he did not create anything original. He's just done what many other people have done and maybe been more successful than others at growing the size of his business. It's anti-competitive for his to secure sole rights to this simply because his business is the largest. "
29/03/2012 "Utterly appalling prostitution of copyright laws. These laws are supposed to exist to protect creativity and innovation, not stifle other people's creativity. It beggars belief that Mark Coop thinks he can treat this as a "business opportunity" and attack his competitors for not registering it first. I would wonder how he justifies this to himself, but the obvious answer is surely that he wants money for nothing and will make any excuse to back this up. This is an utter disgrace to British business and the memory of Britain's proudest moment in history. He and all who work with him should be utterly ashamed. And if the best defence he can offer is sob stories about a hate campaign, he should be doubly ashamed."
30/03/2012 "Everything comes down to money these days, and the greed of man, one man in particular, it seems! I hope this trademark registration will be overturned, and then the slogan can remain in the public domain. Good luck with the campaign! MHW"
30/03/2012 "Keep up the good work regarding the ridiculous CC&CO claim. While we're at it chaps, can you also look into whether the MoD can trademark the "RAF roundel" give its been in widespread use since the first world war? Thanks!"
09/04/2012 "This phrase means a lot to people of the UK who Kept Calm and Carried On throughout and after WWII. We should keep it and make it our own. It's British history and bulldog spirit."
09/04/2012 "This Poster was created for all British people. Please ensure it's message is for the benefit of all, and not for the sole purpose of one businessman hoping to make a buck off of Britain's national pride. Rescind this trademark! A hate campaign? Hardly! It is a "stop this opportunist from ripping off a National Treasure to stuff his own pockets" campaign. "
09/04/2012 "Please Keep Calm, for the people not for one man to gain riches he has never worked for. Thank-you. "
09/04/2012 "We have 'territoirs' for cheese and hams this is no different. This British slogan should be protected"
09/04/2012 "My opinion is it is shortsighted to trademark an expression that has so recently entered the common language and captured such attention because it is so British in its sentiment. What might be next; "Let have a cup of tea" or "Merry Christmas"?"
09/04/2012 "Good luck with your campaign!"
09/04/2012 "Best of luck with the legal battle, we're all behind you."
10/04/2012 "How can the EU be so stupid, hang on what about the Common Fisheries Policy? This Mark Coop chap needs his wings clipped."
10/04/2012 "How can the EU be so stupid, hang on what about the Common Fisheries Policy? This Mark Coop chap needs his wings clipped."
10/04/2012 "this man is deluded. please stop him. "
10/04/2012 "Let Britain unite with their love for this slogan! Share your love of Britain, this slogan was not intended for one man alone."
10/04/2012 "This is my mantra for life - nobody (except maybe the people who originally conceived it) has the right to Trade Mark it."
10/04/2012 "Some people will do anything for money! We live near Barter Books and think it is disgusting that this person has decided to hijack a British institution, discovered by Barter Books, who did not feel they had the right to copyright it, and have freely shared it with the world. Shameful behaviour by Coop."
10/04/2012 "Keep Calm and Sign Up :O) "
10/04/2012 "How anyone can be allowed to claim as a trademark the words and symbolism of a poster generated by the British Government in the Second World War is beyond me. It is beyond reprehensible and wrong, it is the worst kind of theft to my mind and I would urge that others remember the words of one of the sister publications and act upon it: 'Freedom is in Peril - DEFEND IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT' and I can only hope that the third sister publication of the time proves right too - ' your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolution WILL BRING VICTORY'"
10/04/2012 "What a shame that greed has caused this upset... but we shall keep calm and indeed carry on! "
10/04/2012 "I cannot understand how anyone can seek to trademark either the poster, the colour, the typeface or the text of a document first published by the British Government. "
11/04/2012 "Good luck and please carry on!"
11/04/2012 "Please keep the "Keep Calm and Carry On" slogan free to use! No one should trademark this great part of British history!"
11/04/2012 "its just wrong!"
12/04/2012 "What we all need is a full blown revolution. We need to speek up en mass when we see injustice!"
15/04/2012 "As said by the Admin "Keep Calm and Campaign""
16/04/2012 "No one person can claim this phrase - it has been around too long and is in general use. It will also ruin the business of too many people. This is fuelled purely by greed and not at all in keeping with the sentiment of the original phrase. It was created to keep people positive during difficult times. Not to make money. "
17/04/2012 "What a wonderful poster : the words are timeless."
18/04/2012 "This saying means so much to a lot of people... Way more then making money, why can Mark Coop not see that?? This is a big part of history and of some people's lives, one man shouldn't be able to distort that!"
18/04/2012 "Co-op not Coop!"
20/04/2012 "Keep calm and carry on belongs to Bartersbooks!!! Hands Off!!!"
20/04/2012 "Thanks for fighting the good fight! Here's an infographic I did about the history of the Keep Calm Poster - maybe you can link to it to help raise awareness of the poster's origins. http://www.fibers.com/main/keep-calm-carry-on-history-infographic"
22/04/2012 "Not an exact science, someone saw a loophole and took it and is now taking advantage "
22/04/2012 "It's our icon ..not his !"
23/04/2012 "I liked the sentiment of the original poster and have a Barter Books reproduction above my desk. Unfortunately that sentiment has been destroyed by shameless profiteering. However, if Mr Coop did not have trademark protection then there would be even more tat available. It is such a shame that the Great British Public are happy to cheapen the message by collecting their aprons, tea towels, tee shirts and "Panic and freak out" iPad covers but that's the Freedom 'we' were fighting for. I admire Barter Books for not cashing in on this but, inevitably, someone had to destroy the ideal. That's now been done and no amount of trade mark wrangling can undo the debasement of the KC&CO idea. "
24/04/2012 ""I live by my big poster of 'keep calm' at the bottom of my stairs,every morning I look at it when the chaos of children around me :) No way should this happen,it's a piece of our history " Property of Great Britain. Not property of one man to trademark. Even the two owners of the originals do not trademark and stop others using. "There should be a request to the UK Intellectual Property Office to reject this RTM because (1), it contravenes Clause 4 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 in that it includes a part of a Royal Coat of Arms, or at least appears to; and (2) because it contravenes Clause 5(4)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 as it is identical to an unregistered trade mark in use beforehand, namely by Barter Books since 2001. The request has, however, to come from Barter Books itself and not by means of a public petition." "
25/04/2012 "Copyright shouldn't have been granted in 2011 for a wartime slogan!"
30/04/2012 "I agree! Keep it in the public domain."
02/05/2012 "Keep calm but keep fighting!"
05/05/2012 "I had thought this sort of copyright extortion only happened here in the U. S. I hope your efforts to squelch Coop are successful!"
05/05/2012 "Good luck with this campaign which I am more than happy to support."
05/05/2012 "This belongs to all of us,not one."
05/05/2012 "Yes iconic, but also timely and timeless -- perhaps unfortunately. A perfect statement from a man born to lead at that moment in time and place. Absolutely no one would have -- could have -- done a finer job. G-d rest his soul and bless his memory."
07/05/2012 "So has this idiot won or not? It's a disgrace if he gets away with it, an absolute disgrace! KEEP CALM AND KICK HIS ASS"
11/05/2012 "I can understand the trademarking of company logos and brand names but this relatively new activity trademarking phrases that have been in use for decades is ludicrous! Together we stand, divided we fall... or does someone own this too?!!"
13/05/2012 "Good luck in your campaign. There is no way this shady character should be allowed to get away with such a greedy, selfish act."
13/05/2012 "Keep Calm and Remove Undeserving Trademarks! "
14/05/2012 "How unscrupulous can some people be! "
16/05/2012 "I remember buying a copy of the poster from Barter Books back in 2006 or 2007 to put on the wall of my history classroom. It's now with me in Cairo, Egypt, and continues to raise a smile. I fully support the campaign to keep the phrase in the public domain."
16/05/2012 "this is outrageous. I have had problems trying to trademark a simple name!"
16/05/2012 "i'm shocked at mark coop's behaviour."

Contact us
If you have any questions regarding this e-petition or would like more information about the original Keep Calm and Carry On poster or factual information about this trademark dispute and the companies that were selling Keep Calm products before Mark Coop please contact us.

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Create your own keep calm poster
Checkout this interesting web site that allows you to create your own Keep Calm poster parodies.
We have created our own parody 'Keep Calm and Campaign On'