Ali Spagnola's Power Hour Drinking Game

Yesterday my lawyer filed 26 expensive pages of crap known as the “Trial Brief”. Expensive because I just got another invoice along with it bringing the total cost for this case to $30K. Yes, that’s thirty friggin’ thousands of dollars. BUT! this MAY just be the last thing we have to do for the opposition. *cautiously optimistic WOOHOO!*

My lawyer has officially submitted my testimony and exhibits to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Now it’s time for more waiting. I hope the TTAB finds some humor in all this mess. I also hope they find my argument convincing :)

After making corrections, I just signed my copy of the written transcript of the testimony saying it’s a true record. There was only one error. The stenographer didn’t know that “61 minute songs” is actually supposed to be “60 one-minute songs”. Apparently she’s never done a power hour. I should have taken her out to party after.

Now this means my lawyer and I have until Sept. 16th to serve the transcript. More to come after that!

Yes, that rhymed.

Anyway, the testimony yesterday went well! It was a lot of me being asked to “identify this document” which were emails from Steve and “please read what is in the second paragraph” kind of things. It wasn’t as dramatically “Law & Order” as I would have liked but there was at least a stenographer which, I found, is a big encourager of self consciousness. It’s weird having every word you say on record.

I got to talk about Carnegie Mellon fraternities, the origin of my knowledge of power hours. And I got to give a special shout out to my high donors. Thanks again to “Those people” and “Anonymous” who gave some extra evidence by both donating over $1,000 in support! I also go to point out how Steve says and does contradictory things. I bet it would have been the first time the stenographer ever had to type “giant stupid meanie-head jerk”. Well, too bad I had self control and kept it to myself.

And speaking of Steve, no, he didn’t show up. He had a chance to cross examine me and he didn’t take it. I’ll update again once the testimony has been submitted or if Steve does get in touch with my lawyer.

Today I’m going to give testimony for the power hour trademark case! I have to answer a bunch of questions about my knowledge of the term “power hour” and Steve’s interactions with me. I may be slightly nervous about this. But for no good reason. It’s going to be fine. My lawyer even wrote out all the questions he’s going to ask me.

The last question I’ll be asked is “Have you received support from others in pursuing this Opposition?  Please describe this support.” So all of you people posting online about how “power hour” is a generic term is going to be helpful with my testimony! And all of the supporters who gave donations to help me with my legal fees are helping as evidence, too! So thank you, again, to everyone that donated and everyone that’s been following the case and writing emails, blog postings and comments in support.

Steve still hasn’t responded so we don’t know if he’s even going to show up for the testimony. I’ll let you know if he does or doesn’t.

Wish me luck with my question answering. Maybe I should do a power hour before I testify. You know, just to refresh my memory on what a power hour is. Plus it will calm those nerves.