Damon Waynes Denied Trademark
WASHINGTON - It appears that Homey D. Clown still has a few tricks up his sleeve. You remember Homey -- the nutty street clown on the comedy show "In Living Color" who kept kiddies at birthday parties in line by whomping them over the head with a heavy sock and saying, "Homey don't play that."
The character disappeared when the show's run ended in 1994, but the guy who portrayed him, Damon Wayans, is still around. He recently starred in the now-canceled ABC sitcom "My Wife and Kids" and is trying to launch a hip-hop clothing line -- with a trademark that rapper Jay-Z famously rhymed with "Jigga."
But the U.S. Patent and Trademarkffice don't play that. Its blunt rejection of Wayans -- twice so far -- amounts to its own sock over the head. Officials won't comment on their decision, but trademark attorney Paul Fleischut of St. Louis says the dismissal is a no-brainer.
