An Internet audio service says it has won protection for the call letters WHAV so that no radio station can “steal” part of the local community’s heritage.
“The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded WHAV federal protection from service mark infringement,” states the station. “Federal registration was sought to ensure the call letters would forever be associated with audio broadcasting in Haverhill, Mass.”
It explains that these calls were once used by the Haverhill Police shortwave station, and later turned over to a broadcast station in 1947. The organization has posted an extensive and interesting history of the call letters and its related owners.
“The letters remained in use through several owners until 2002, when they were abandoned. COCO+CO. received a service mark for the call letters in 2004 for its Internet and cable television station from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
WHAV President/GM Tim Coco says in the announcement, “Federal registration of the WHAV name was necessary to prevent another radio station elsewhere in the country from adopting the calls and stealing a portion of Haverhill’s heritage.”
The company airs a “Soft Gold” format online and says it has a strong Web presence as well as access to cable subscribers in several local communities.
It said the application for a service mark was reviewed and approved by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.
