Where in the World?

If you’ve been keeping up with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rulings, you know that Huntington Beach in sunny Southern California--not Santa Cruz in the chilly north--has the right to market itself as Surf City USA. Many historians will tell you that the first humans to ride the waves in California were Hawaiian princes who did so at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River, which is up there, not down here. No matter. Huntington Beach won in Washington--because it actually bothered to register. The state Legislature may still weigh in, but in the meantime, other localities ought to take note and get their lawyers busy. Some trademarks-in-waiting that come to mind:

Turf City: Sacramento

Worth City: Beverly Hills

Mirth City: Hollywood

Earth City: Berkeley

Berth City: Long Beach

Dearth City: Death Valley Jct.

Cirque City: Las Vegas

Work City: City of Industry

FERC City: Snohomish, WA