Martha Stewart: NOT A "Good Thing"

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

16 Jul 2007 04:06 PM

You'd think with all her ideas for hosting the perfect party that Martha Stewart would be able to make (and keep) more friends. Or, at the very least, not be so despised by the people who live around her.

It seems that the domestic diva's feud with some of her Westchester County, New York neighbors is getting ugly. Some may even say the melodrama is turning melodic. The war between Stewart and her neighbors has inspired a protest song that's making its way around the Internet.

The song was written by Katonah (located about 40 miles north of midtown Manhattan) resident Marc Black and takes aim at Stewart's attempt to trademark the village's name for use on a line of furniture and home products.

That idea that the lifestyle guru would try to market the village's name has outraged many residents, who say that no one should own the name "Katonah."

Stewart's "audacity" has also angered some American Indians, who say the name is taken from a beloved 17th-century tribal chief.

I've heard the song and frankly, I'm glad it's not aimed at me.

Here are some of the lyrics:

"We love you Martha. And that's why, I wrote this song. We like you here, you can belong. But you just can't buy us, and simply own."

As for whether the domestic doyenne has heard the protest ditty, no one from her camp would comment. However, spokespeople from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., said Stewart was requesting trademark protection to "prevent competitors from selling knockoffs."

In fact, place-names are commonly used by well-known brands, from Philadelphia Cream Cheese to Nantucket Nectars, without any harm to the residents of those towns," Stewart's rep told reporters.

In retaliation, The Katonah Village Improvement Society has reportedly launched a campaign called "Nobody Owns Katonah" to fight the trademarking of the name.

Whose side are you on?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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