Would you buy a T-shirt with a Latin Kings gang symbol on it? How about a backpack with the Bloods gang sign? Would you even try and trademark such a symbol? The branding of illegal activity is usually done underground, consisting of tattoos and graffiti mostly. So why French company, Early Flicker, would try and trademark the Anonymous logo and slogan is un peu bizarre.

Tweeted by @Asher Wolf yesterday, it appears Apollinaire Auffret from Early Flicker applied to the Institut National De La Propriete Industrielle (INPI) to protect the logo and slogan. The hacktivist group’s logo consists of a headless man in a suit with a question mark for a head, standing before a globe and a wreath. The slogan reads “Anonymous. We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.” Early Flicker is an eBay store that has a range of different product categories, including t-shirts, handbags, and accessories.

The little e-tialer is taking on a big dog with its latest bid. Anonymous condones crime by illegaly releasing protected IP and temporarily bringing down large corporate and brands’ websites, but don’t like any legal moves that impinge on their rights. So, naturally, Anonymous has already issued this response:[more]

Uploaded today, as a response to the attempted trademark register, the video is a clear threat to anyone, not just Early Flicker, trying to trademark their IP and logo. The message:

Hello Citizens of the world, We are Anonymous. Dear brothers and sisters, now is the time to open your eyes and expose the truth!

Anonymous logo and slogan has been defiled and registered through the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). An online t-shirt company called “Early Flicker” or “E-flicker” has registered the anonymous slogan and logo and passed it on as there own. Now under French law the company owns the rights to the anonymous logo and slogan. The company’s website is pickapop.fr.

In a response the National Institute of Industrial Property said that “the conditions seem fulfilled since the mark is registered and it does not seem to have made ​​use. Their arrogance and ignorance of what they have done will not go un punished. Anonymous will take down any business they have going on the internet and the 99 percent will not stop until the registration has been revoked and a public apology has been made.

The name of Anonymous will not be the whore of the world.

We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.”

Listed on the video’s YouTube page is the “target” (www.pickapop.fr and www.eflicker.fr), with their real addresses, ebay web address and patent links. The e-tailer already sells an Anonymous t-shirt — but will it be their last?

[Image via Shutterstock]