My Power Hour Is In Jeopardy

I wrote 60 songs about drinking. And they’re all one minute long. If you’ve ever done a power hour you’ll know it’s a drinking game where you take a shot of beer every time the song changes. Awesomeness ensues.

I play these songs live at my Drinking Game Concerts where the crowd plays the game while I perform. You can play the game right now with this video playlist:

Someone is trying to force me to take down my videos, stop selling my album and stop performing my live drinking game concerts. I need your help to stop this from happening.

A guy by the name of Steve Roose also made a power hour DVD. He was JUST granted a trademark for the term “power hour”. Steve didn’t invent the power hour so he shouldn’t have the trademark but he has now begun harassing me to get rid of everything I’ve made related to my Power Hour Drinking Game Album.

I’ve hired a lawyer and already sunk lots of money into fighting this. The next step is for me to protest Steve’s trademark because he most definitely shouldn’t have the rights to that name. This is where you come in.

Help Me Save the Power Hour

My lawyer says it’s going to take an estimated $15,000 to fight Steve. I need your help to raise the money to keep the power hour name free from ownership otherwise The Power Hour Album, music videos and live Drinking Game Concerts will disappear forever. Please donate anything you can to this (obviously) worthy (because it’s about beer!) cause.

All donors will be acknowledged on my site (if they don’t want to be anonymous) and there are some awesome incentives based on how much you donate. You can get anything from a download of the album to a private Drinking Game Concert from me! They’re all listed below.

If you can’t donate but still want to help me out, please post links and share this website any way you can. Facebook, Digg, Reddit, Twitter, carrier pigeon…..whatever. Just help me spread the word!

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UPDATE: Steve has gotten my Power Hour Concert events taken off of Facebook. He’s also successfully gotten my DVD taken off of Amazon and stopped Rhapsody from selling my mp3s. These types of websites don’t want to get in the middle of disputes so when they receive a cease and desist, they take the content down immediately no matter what the context. In Steve’s threat emails to me he said he’s also going to contact iTunes and YouTube. I’m guessing those will come down next if I don’t get his trademark revoked soon.

Why Steve Shouldn’t Have the Trademark

The term “power hour” has been around for a a very long time. It is a general term that describes the game. Trademark law states “Registration of a mark that is merely descriptive should be refused.” This means the term “power hour” shouldn’t belong to Steve. He shouldn’t be able to force me to throw away my artwork. I just need the money to protest this so that I can get his trademark removed.

All Power Hours are in Danger, Not Just Mine

Not only is Steve trying to get rid of my power hour, he’s been bullying other people as well. Power Hour HQ is another site that has contacted me about stopping Steve Roose. Unless you help SAVE THE POWER HOUR, Steve will be able to get rid of every power hour anyone has ever made and he’s already begun to try.

If you’re another site that wants to join the fight, send me an email at powerhour [at] alispagnola [dot] com.

Reasons Why This Makes Me Sad

• My Power Hour Album is my creative work. I get a lot of enjoyment out of it (and I do believe many others do as well). It would be a friggin’ shame if I had to completely dispense with my creation.
• This issue is being decided not based on who is morally right but who has the most money.
• I’m making this website right now when I should be out drinking and having a good time with my friends.

Ways to Make Me Unsad

Well Crap. I Don’t Want to Publicize for This Guy

I haven’t linked to Steve’s power hour DVD because I don’t want to give him more traffic but feel free to find him online and form your own opinion. Then feel free to NOT buy his power hour Also, feel free to donate to help me fight him!

Incentives to Donate

Once you donate, I’ll get back to you very soon to get your personal message if you want to be acknowledged on the site.

Donate $0 and get

a free playlist of all the Power Hour Drinking Game Videos online. (Yep, they’re all free for your drinking game pleasure on YouTube but if I don’t raise enough money I’ll have to take them down.)

Donate $1 and get

your name graciously thanked on this site

Donate $5 and get

free download of the album

Donate $10 and get

a sticker. for sticking!

and a free download of the album

Donate $20 and get

a physical copy of the CD

Donate $25 and get

a physical copy of the DVD

Donate $40 and get

a physical copy of both the CD and the DVD

Donate $50 and get

a signed copy of the CD

Donate $65 and get

a signed copy of the DVD

Donate $100 and get

a signed copy of the CD and the DVD

Donate $200 and get

all 4 of my albums and The Power Hour DVD

Donate $300 and get

signed copies of all 4 of my albums and The Power Hour DVD

Donate $400 and get

to play the cowbell at my next concert

Donate $500 and get

to beatbox with me at my next concert

Donate $1,000 (and travel expenses) and get

a private Power Hour Concert with Ali

Donate over $2,000 (and travel expenses) and get

a private Power Hour Concert with Ali and The Power Hour Band

Donate over $3,000 and

I’ll write and record you a 1 minute song about anything you’d like in the style of your choosing. (Feel free to donate to this 60 times to have your very own, custom Power Hour)

Donate $???

Do you have something in mind for an incentive that I haven’t mentioned here? Want me to make you a Power Hour mix from songs you pick? Would you like me to play a Power Hour concert of only covers? Want a copy of my album that I promise to rub on my butt? How about a hug? Email me your ideas and we can work out a donation amount!

SAVE THE POWER HOUR Press

Thanks for helping to share SAVE THE POWER HOUR!
Power Hour HQ • Reddit • Heavy.com • Techdirt • Pittsburgh City Paper • Bro Bible • Reddit • Twitter • Digg • #savethepowerhour • urlesque

A Final Note

Thanks for reading this far. I really appreciate any donations or publicity you can give me. Also… binge responsibly!

SAVE THE POWER HOUR Backers

Thanks so much to all the people helping to SAVE THE POWER HOUR!

104 Backers

$5,605.30 Donated

8/2/10
Those People donated $1,200
“TURKEY FRY OH-’10 =) Good luck on the copyright battle.”

7/24/10
Nilesh Shah donated $10
“I’m up to three Power Hours a week thanks to Ali’s infectious tunes. Don’t make me stop!”

7/7/10
Kaori Yazawa donated $200

6/15/10
Anonymous donated $5

6/12/10
Anonymous donated $20

6/6/10
Anonymous donated $500

6/2/10
Debbie Brashear donated $99.36
“Because my little’s power hours are the best!”

5/28/10
Doug Fritz donated $25

5/25/10
Anonymous donated $100

5/25/10
Paul Stuckey donated $10
“FREEEEEEDOME!”

5/25/10
Alan Eaton donated $6
“Whoever copyrighted Power Hour did so after a Power Hour!”

5/24/10
David Rice donated $50

5/23/10
Dave B. donated $15

5/21/10
dpax55 donated $5

5/21/10
Nicholas Begovich donated $5
“I like how you’ve turned a bad situation around! Kudos!”

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/21/10
Creighton Linza donated $25

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $2

5/21/10
Weasel donated $10

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $25

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $20

5/21/10
Jonas Sicking donated $10

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $1

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $9.99

5/21/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $1

5/20/10
Daniel Garrison donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/20/10
Friend from San Jose donated $40

5/20/10
Marc Monroe donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/20/10
Bill Dubert donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. -Elie Wiesel”

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10
“As Thomas Jefferson said, ‘those who abuse the trademark system deserve a beerless eternity.’”

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $25

5/20/10
Vicki Wenderlich donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $1

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $15

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $20

5/20/10
Kevin Haller donated $20
“Your music is completely awesome, I hope you come out on top in the lawsuit!”

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $50

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $20

5/20/10
Anonymous Redditor donated $10
“Best of luck!”

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $15

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $25

5/20/10
Kate Oliver donated $5

5/20/10
Rhys Dawson donated $5

5/20/10
John Painz donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $25

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $1

5/20/10
Johnny DuBro Buse donated $1.60

5/20/10
Anonymous – Austin, TX donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $1

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $5

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Anonymous donated $5

5/20/10
Chris Lemcke donated $1

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $20

5/20/10
Ben Dalton donated $20

5/20/10
Shomari Smith donated $25

5/20/10
Andrew K. donated $40

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $40

5/20/10
Timothy Reese donated $25
“Keep on fighting the good fight!”

5/20/10
Anonymous donated $10

5/19/10
Andrew Cummings donated $10

5/18/10
Mulligan Burns donated $99.35
“one up on Grauel”

5/18/10
Anonymous donated $100

5/18/10
Jerod Ashton donated $25

5/14/10
Jason Grauel donated $99.34
“So I can cowbell again someday…”

5/13/10
Chris Lee donated $100

5/13/10
Anonymous donated $1,300
“Kick his ass, seriously.”

5/12/10
Eric Brown donated $10
“I’m loving it! … wait am I allowed to say that?”

5/11/10
Anonymous donated $5

5/11/10
Rachel Leyko donated $25

5/11/10
Phillip Friddle donated $10

5/10/10
Mark Tomczak donated $200

5/10/10
Cary Kingdom donated $20
“Nobody likes a bully”

5/10/10
Erin Moore donated $30

5/10/10
Anonymous donated $6.66

5/10/10
Evan Tahler donated $50
“Stick this in your pocket! Love Ali”

5/10/10
Anonymous donated $100

5/10/10
Samantha Helsing donated $20

5/10/10
Simon Fitzkit donated $5
“In the field!”

5/10/10
Bobby Schweizer donated $25
“Damn the man, save the Empire!!”

5/10/10
Aaron Tarnow donated $25

5/10/10
Kit FitzSimons donated $70
“Fight the Power. Buy the Hour.”

5/10/10
Seema Patel donated $10
“People who abuse the Patent/Trademark system deserve a good cock punching.”

5/10/10
Anonymous donated $25

5/10/10
Andy Jih donated $25
“SPRING BREAK”

5/10/10
Anonymous donated $200

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