i woke up to this crap about someone trademarking “hot girls read” and saw a woman comment (who I am going to first ask her if it’s okay that I share her username on the world wide web) that said she will absolutely make sure to continue buying it from small businesses because they are grandfathered in from the rights of prior use.
obviously, i asked myself where’s the list. didn’t really look before deciding to just create this. i actually think this is a dope domain and hope i expand on this one day! but for now, getting this up as fast as possible. i put this up faster than i could think. haven’t even told my stylish, bookish, incredible designer of a co-worker yet hehe.
excited about what this could become. submit more links in the footer. i’ve stuck mostly to “hot girls read” but holy f there’s so many things i want in the “hot girls read books” category too. tempting, but just hot girls read here plz thx.
this is a community resource ❤︎
this is a community resource ❤︎
what happened
In August 2024, a creator filed a federal trademark on the phrase "Hot Girls Read" — a phrase already circulating in bookish communities, printed on tote bags and bookmarks, worn on sweatshirts by small businesses across the country. The trademark went through. Small businesses were told to remove their HGR products.
Trademarking a phrase you sell products under is common and legal. But "Hot Girls Read" didn't originate with one person. It belongs to a culture — and cultures can't be owned.
what is colonization, actually?
At its core, colonization is the process by which an outside power moves into a space, claims ownership over what was already there, and then enforces that claim—extracting value from the original community while limiting their access to what they built. Enclosure. Displacement. Extraction. Enforcement.
your rights — prior use explained
A federal trademark doesn't erase prior use. If a small business was selling HGR products before January 14, 2021 — the date she claimed as first commercial use — they may have established common law trademark rights and could be grandfathered in. They can continue operating and have a legal defense against any cease & desist.
What prior use requires:
Dated Etsy listings, shop screenshots, receipts, social posts with timestamps — anything proving commercial use of the phrase before January 14, 2021. If you have it, hold onto it.
what it’s covering (what https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/ says)":
Goods and services
IC 016: Bookmarks; Stickers; Book covers; Notebook covers; Stickers; Adhesive note pads; Adhesive note paper; Adhesive notepads; Blank notepads; Blank paper notebooks; Paper note books; Paper notepads; Printed notepads. | First Use Anywhere: January 14, 2021 | First Use in Commerce: January 14, 2021
IC 025: Sweatshirts; Graphic T-shirts; Hooded sweatshirts. | First Use Anywhere: January 14, 2021 | First Use in Commerce: January 14, 2021