Not to Be, Um, Trifled With, Texas Guards Its Slogans

[XemaSab]

Don’t mess with Texas. In fact, don’t even mess with “Don’t Mess With Texas.”

The trademarked slogan started out nearly 30 years ago as the clarion call of a campaign to reduce highway littering. But over the years it has become something far bigger: an identity statement, a declaration of Texas swagger — from barrooms to sports arenas to political conventions.

And Texas is touchy about who uses it and how.

In July, a Montana company that makes Western-themed accessories stopped selling a “Don’t Mess With Texas” belt buckle after the Texas Department of Transportation, which owns the federally registered trademark on the phrase, threatened legal action and told the firm to ship the offending merchandise to Austin.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/us/not-to-be-um-trifled-with-texas-guards-its-slogans.html?hp

[KG]

1. Screw You,

We're from Texas

&list=PL4D5190DCA88152B9

[Warpy]

2. I just thought the slogan was incomplete

Don't Mess with Texas, it's already a mess.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. They don't call it the lone star state for nothing.

It only deserves one star.