Food For Life Network: Name too similar to ISKCON Food For Life

[Guest guest]

I recently came across an organization called "Food For Life Network",

(website: http://www.ffln.org/ ) based in Florida which provides meals to

aids infected people. It is a multi million dollar organization, which

recently received a large amount of money from Oprah Winfrey.

 

The name of the organization is so similar to ISKCON's food for life, that I

wonder if any legal action could be taken against them by ISKCON.

 

There logo is very misleading, in that they have "Food For Life" in big

letters, and then "Network" underneath in small letters.

 

>From their site they state:

 

- Food for Life Network (FFLN) was incorporated as a not-for-profit

501©(3) organization on January 9th, 1987

 

Does any ISKCON organization own the trademark "Food For Life"?

[Guest guest]

I believe this name is used by so many organizations and businesses that it

is impossible to trademark now.

 

The way I see it, is that these organizations, while not as spiritual as

ISKCON FFL, are all doing something positive, therefore they are all

indirectly helping to raise the profile of the name "Food for Life."

 

There is so much more we can do with FFL and this organization's example

should serve to inspire us -- if they can achieve so much and raise so much

funds with what they are doing, surely ISKCON FFL can do even better. The

problem I have seen over the years is that some ISKCON FFL projects have an

aversion to "playing by the rules" and conforming to the accepted practices

of a charity. As a result, those projects do not grow and sometimes become a

burden to maintain. It is a shame, because FFL represents one of the

"angas" of the sankirtan movement and Prabhupada clearly stated that 50% of

ISKCON's income should be spent on kirtan and refreshment (prasadam).

 

The attempt must go on to convert unwilling men to become His devotees. Lord

Caitanya has taught a very simple method in this connection. He has taught

the lesson for preaching the transcendental message through singing, dancing

and refreshment. As such, fifty percent of our income may be spent for this

purpose" (SB 1.5.36 purport).

 

- Priyavrata Das

Food for Life Global

Headquarters for the world's largest vegan/vegetarian food relief

www.ffl.org

 

 

-

"Jahnava Nitai (das) (Mysore - IN)" <Jahnava.Nitai (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

"Free Forum (Announcements)" <Free.Forum (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Cc: "Priyavrata FFL" <priya (AT) ffl (DOT) org>

Monday, October 28, 2002 1:04 AM

"Food For Life Network": Name too similar to ISKCON Food For Life

 

 

> I recently came across an organization called "Food For Life Network",

> (website: http://www.ffln.org/ ) based in Florida which provides meals to

> aids infected people. It is a multi million dollar organization, which

> recently received a large amount of money from Oprah Winfrey.

>

> The name of the organization is so similar to ISKCON's food for life, that

I

> wonder if any legal action could be taken against them by ISKCON.

>

> There logo is very misleading, in that they have "Food For Life" in big

> letters, and then "Network" underneath in small letters.

>

> >From their site they state:

>

> - Food for Life Network (FFLN) was incorporated as a not-for-profit

> 501©(3) organization on January 9th, 1987

>

> Does any ISKCON organization own the trademark "Food For Life"?