Group says legal action planned over 'Grange' casino name
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The fraternal organization National Grange says it will take legal action against the developers behind a proposed casino called The Grange.
The organization said Friday that officials will discuss their plans in a news conference next week. National Grange officials said last week they own the trademark on the word "grange" and demanded that the casino developers stop using the name or agree to pay for it. Both sides said they hoped to work out an agreement.
A spokeswoman for the casino developers says they're disappointed National Grange is turning to legal action. She says "grange" is a common term that is currently used without confusion by a variety of businesses.
Casino proponents are asking voters to approve two ballot measures in November that would allow them to build The Grange outside Portland.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
This is a good story by a poor article. Â This is a much more informative article.
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http://www.kgw.com/news/National-Grange-suing-proposed-casino-developers-168208076.html
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The proposed site for the casino complex is the horse race track.  I think it would be great to see something more job creating go into this area.  I don't support casinos going into this area.  Voter overwhelmingly rejected this same issue two years ago and its most likely happen again. Â
Maybe this group should get a refund from their PR firm for not checking out the name before using it. The Grange was an agricultural group that formed to unite farmers into a community, organize a political base, and negotiate higher prices for crops. The Grange Casino is basing it ads on community and the assets they claim it will bring. This maybe the argument.
And, as far as the $.25 for every dollar promised to the state fund, check out ci.woodvillage.or.us for where the percentages will be going. We have heard the schools will get money but no one mentioned the percentage to cities, counties, and oregon tribes. The projections are based on AGIs ( adjusted Gross Income) of $250MM and $400MM, which means they are planning on taking in gross revenues in the billions from those weak minded or abnormal soles as some of you have called them.
 @Pauletta I'm pretty sure no one mentioned the physically handicapped until you did, lol, "abnormal soles".
Actually it was a comment from one of the participants in an earlier post. Compulsive gamblers have been referred to as stupid, weak minded, abnormal and many other hateful terms by people who do not understand the illness. Unfortunately, not every one filters their comments.
And you seemed to be a little critical. Did you get your facebook account closed for meaning the mean kid on the block. I have a great sense of humor. I just don't have to be harsh at someone elses expense to express a point of view.
And yes I did spell it soles because it was a step on comment.
 @Pauletta You should file a police report, someone stole your sense of humor.  As I'm sure most other readers noticed, you used 'soles', not 'souls', indicating feet, not people...
No, to the Canada casino, but I don't believe that the "National Grange Hall", has a prayer. Good for them for causing a bump in their progress ..., but it's just a bump.
I kind of thought that this name was a little stupid for a Casino. I know that they wanted something that would evoke a more communal feel (as stated earlier, this is more than just a casino going in)...but the Grange? Does Wood Village even have a chapter of a grange? I know that there's a grange in Rockwood (a seedy looking little structure)...but Wood Village? There are many other names they could have chosen to convey a feeling of community.
Wow so a bunch of minimum wage jobs where after taxes ( their not mitt ) you can pay $200 to 250 a month for healthcare.
Then the company can divert taxes....
Due to loss from start up costs to building asset recovery and a tax exemption for initial employee hiring for what 10 to 15 years.
Some states allow you to carry over up to 10 years
Wow the local schools will be So screwed ( happy ).
And they will even have a special ATM that only takes unemployment and Welfare cards...
Lets see they Don't create a product.
They don't improve the area economy ( the house always wins )
Any money that would be regularly  spent would be at local businesses that affect supply chain and wages in  the area.
Conditions??? Â Oh Wait that would be a conditional use permit...
1. the expected average ( advertised ) tax income for local area schools must be paid without any tax deferment..
2. Wages should reflect industry standards.
Not a big fan of the Oregon lottery but at least the money is used to promote local business..
This is just a fat cat wanting the winnings ( losers ) all to his self...
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@cptmac11 I for one will vote for this. It's been needed out here for many years. And you forget...there's more to this than just the casino. Recreational family type facilities, a new cinema, the Farmer's Market (which will bring money to farmers)...I don't see a problem. We need it...and I'm going to add my vote so that we get it. Get it?
 @Bewitchin1 I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any of the promised items to appear. Once the initiative passes, there is no obligation to actually do what is promised. Expect a bare bones casino with minimal jobs and no benefits.
 @cptmac11 Who cares?  Casinos weed out the stupid; it's their best feature. It's Darwin-like effect on the area far outweighs any losses of tax revenue or such.  Be glad there are such easy ways for people to prove they're morons.
I was wondering if they'd get involved. Everytime I hear this casino's name, I immediately think of the National Grange. Back in Ohio, nearly every community had a chapter, and it was always called, "the Grange".
This doesn't sound like trademark infringement to me as they are in completely different lines of business. Â Anyways, "grange" is a common English word.
How about "Clipper's Casino" ?
Grange is a stupid word anyway.    Pick something else - like "Money Pit" or "Fool's Playground" or "Reverse ATM" - anything but GRANGE.Â
 @Justanother1 You know, I like your thinking. Personally, the "Grange" has no connection to the land any more in that area since its stopped being agriculturally used. There's a Grange Hall nearby but, eh, not really associated with that specific site. I'm thinking something more like "The Tracks". After all, it used to be the greyhound race tracks. ;) I suppose it could be shortened to "The Dogs" or we could get it confused with "The Dog Park".
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The Grange proper is hurting for money and hurting for membership. I find it difficult to believe they'd be willing to lose money or memberships over a court case surrounding their name so I'm inclined to believe that they do, indeed, own the trademark to the name. As far as other businesses who use the name, many were started up years ago (some, undoubtedly with Grange members) and have been allowed in or aren't seen as something that can tarnish the name of the Grange. The Granges are still fairly strong in the midwest where gambling is obviously frowned upon. It would take quite a few explanations to Grange members why they are "operating" a casino out in Oregon.
Never heard of National Grange until I looked it up. I highly doubt anyone is going to confuse the two. Seems rather sad that a casino would get sued over such a petty thing like the name which has nothing to do with it.
 @molotovmouse Trademark law is funny that way - you either defend your Trademark, or you implicitly give it up.  The National Grange is almost forced to take this action, even if they lose.
The National Grange owns the trademark on the word "grange"??? Don't think so. Just off the top of my head, I can think of several businesses which use the word "grange" in their name, and at least one restaurant simply called "The Grange". Historically, "grange" refers to the association of farmers founded in the U.S. in 1867, which came to possess some political power. But it also has a general meaning which denotes farming or agricultural communities or concerns. Surely the National Grange has better things to do than sue a casino.
 @felines99 You can lose a trademark by not defending it, which leads to companies taking more legal action than they should need to just to be sure that in the future a court won't strip them of the trademark for not defending it. It's stupid, but they're just covering themselves.
 @felines99 Well I hear they have pretty good odds....
Just sayin
 @cptmac11  @felines99 Lol! I can't help but wonder if the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde will help back the legal action of the Grange in keeping the name off of the casino since we also know they don't want a casino nearby to pull away their customers. I'm sure they'll be funding their own slick ads justifying why NOT to vote for the changes needed.
 @CTWU  @felines99  Interesting point. I would not be surprised if the Spirit Mountain people are behind this. I understand they raised a stink over the ones they wanted to build in Hood River and up in LaCenter.
 @felines99 I think that may be part of the problem.  They're dying out, so I'm assuming there is nothing better to do.