This video was produced in order to protest a trademark lawsuit that Intel Corporation brought against a news intelligence service for its use of the word 'intel.' Intel Corporation, facing certain defeat in the courts, has since dropped the suit.

Information is available here: intel4intelligence.blogspot.com

But the problem of 'trademark bullying' endures. Intel Corporation and other large firms abuse the court system, employing an overzealous interpretation of intellectual property rights. These actions hurt small businesses and individuals every single day in the United States.

Lyrics!

Don't ask, don't Intel
Tryin' to buy a word that ain't mine to sell
Ssh! Another ax just fell, but
Don't ask, don't Intel

Bam! They hit 'em with a cease & desist
(Aww Damn) for a word known in the service (of man)
Using 'intel' for 'intelligence'
(What?) the letter didn't make much sense...

Does Intel own the mental property
of a legitimate word in the dictionary
A term -- used historically
by many people in myriad capacities

Before it was the logo of a company
building out the inside technology
Before it was more than the brands you see
bleeding out of your TV

You'd think with all that money that
they'd just let the small man be
BUT YOU'D BE WRONG -- they twist logic with legalese
and pockets so deep to defy is an impossible deed...

Don't ask, don't Intel
Tryin' to buy a word that ain't mine to sell
Ssh! Another ax just fell, but
Don't ask, don't Intel

Intel is a word meaning information and news
and not simply the name of a product you use
But now in court, there's a suit
using words like 'cybersquat' and 'dilute' (what?)

One thing we are led to believe
in this global online society is that
those with the gold get to write the laws, and
those without get a deal that's raw

Our freedoms of speech
aren't like your freedoms of speech
dangled like a carrot just beyond our reach
Intel -- sponsor of tomorrow
but some things cant be bought or borrowed

WORDS belong to everyone
the rich and the poor, weak and the strong
the black and white and red and yellow and the mixes of these
FREEZE the co-opting of language please!


Don't ask, don't Intel
Tryin' to buy a word that ain't mine to sell
Ssh! Another ax just fell, but
Don't ask, don't Intel

So if you let Intel inside, will they
trademark language in front of your eyes?
Like if you eat an apple will you have to pay
a royalty to a company far away?

And if you drive a van do you own the shoes?
Cut a check to Champion if you do not lose?
Do you pay Target if you like archery?
Or get a bill from Miller if you like to grind seeds?

If your name is old McDonald do you owe the food fryer?
If you have a good year do you pay the tires?
Blackberry Gap and Shell, Pony Puma Amazon
and on, till you find them gone

So you see -- it's to be known
In a courtroom or on a microphone
that speech is free and not for sale, but
Don't ask, don't Intel.