Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2002
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author:  TODD BENSMAN

MADD DARNED ANGRY ABOUT SOUND-ALIKE GROUP

DAMMADD Leader Says Complaint Is Without Substance

MADD? No, DAMMADD.

The mad mothers who channeled their anger about drunken drivers into a 
national nonprofit movement have plenty of ire left over for a new group: 
mad dads.

A spat over acronyms landed in Dallas federal court this week when 
Irving-based Mothers Against Drunk Drivers sued the New York-based Dads and 
Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers for service trademark infringement.

MADD wants DAMMADD to get rid of the name. DAMMADD wants MADD to get over 
it. The main question this week was who's madder?

"It's greediness. It's all money-driven for them," said Steven Steiner, who 
founded DAMMADD after his son died of an overdose of prescription pills 
last year. "Maybe they're just jealous because I've had a lot of national 
TV coverage, and they want some."

Not so, said Herbert Hammond, the Dallas trademark attorney representing 
MADD. He said DAMMADD is capitalizing on name recognition that took MADD 
nearly 20 years of public service to build.

DAMMADD's indifference to months of MADD pleas for a name change forced the 
suit, he said.

"It's a pretty famous trademark. Everyone knows what that is, and DAMMADD 
is trading on the reputation," Mr. Hammond said. "People may believe that 
MADD somehow sponsors or is associated with this organization, when they 
aren't. That's the problem."

Mr. Steiner's grass-roots organization of six parents, based in Tioga 
Center, N.Y., focuses on jailing drug dealers with reward money and a tip 
line. The group claims 23 arrests and 10 convictions on reward payouts of 
about $1,300.

Mr. Steiner said inspiration for the name came soon after his son died.
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