Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 16:16:57 -0500
From: Michelle Foxman
To: witchtower@outofthedark.com
Subject: ADL Response
 

The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (ADL) is a civil rights organization founded 87 years ago with a mandate to "stop...the defamation of the Jewish people. Its ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule any sect or body of citizens."  One of ADL's most valuable assets in fighting discrimination is its name and reputation.  For that reason, ADL must to everything necessary to protect its trademark, in order to maintain the credibility and record associated with its good name.
   On September 29, 1999, after cordial correspondence between outside counsel for the ADL and Stephen Foster, President of the Witches Anti-Discrimination League, Mr. Foster agreed to comply with the ADL's request that his organization refrain from infringing ADL's trademark rights.  Mr. Foster confirmed that by January 1,2000, his organization would select a new name that would not include the phrases"Anti Discrimination League", "Anti Defamation League", any confusingly similar phrases or the acronym ADL.  Further to this conversation, on December 29, 1999, Mr. Foster informed outside counsel for the ADL that the new name selected for the organization was the Alternative Religious Education Network, or AREN.  ADL was satisfied with this response, was appreciative of Mr. Foster's prompt attention to this matter, was pleased that the matter was resolved quickly and amicably and considered the matter closed.
   ADL understands the inconvenience that it may have caused the Witches Anti-Discrimination League in requesting that it change its name to one that did not infringe the ADL's rights in its trademark.  This is why in its initial letter to Mr. Foster the ADL offered to work out a timetable for the Witches Anti-Discrimination League to phase out all infringing use.  Furthermore, the ADL in no way sought to single out the Witches Anti-Discrimination League nor does it take issue with the objectives or beliefs of the organization.  In order to protect its trademark, the ADL has taken action against several of the organizations referenced by Ms. Ashby, and plans to look into the remaining organizations of which it was unaware.