The Region - News from Nov. 17, 1985

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce claims that the word Hollywood is a registered trademark and has warned companies using it on commercial products that they risk civil and criminal penalties. Edward Lewis, chamber vice president, said the organization was recently given exclusive licensing rights to the name. The chamber has registered trademarks on the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Christmas Parade. It has alerted companies using the word Hollywood on commercial products that they are now subject to licensing law, violations of which could mean penalties with fines up to $200,000 and prison sentences of up to four years. Companies that use the word in their names will not be subject to licensing laws. The chamber has a goal of raising $300,000 with its licensing program in the next 18 months for maintenance of the Hollywood sign and the Walk of Fame, Lewis said.