I know this was a compromise that Prince wasn't too keen on but when he became "the Artist Formerly Known as Prince" as an alternative to the symbol, a bit of verbage was introduced that is still very actively used today. I work at a college and I just received flyers for an academic department that is changing their name and the flyer says "The Designator Formerly Known as FILM becomed FAMS". Prince popularized this phrase which if you watch TV for even a couple of hours a day you will hear a "formerly known as" reference, same with reading a magazine or the newspaper. It is a statement on identity and has become a recognized shorthand for a significant change that someone or something has made. Add this to the list of Prince's impact...

[Edited 6/7/16 7:09am]

LittleBLUECorvette said:

No, this phrase had been used before Prince was born. Formerly known as the Jackson 5, now the Jacksons. Ect, ect. Formerly known as the Moments, Ray Goodman and Brown.

Prince didn't invent it, definitely agree, but he did, whether he wanted to or not, popularize it. It's kind of like a thread I wrote a few weeks back about how Prince popularized text speak before it was text speak, 2 for to, U for you...but of course it was being used before. It is quite possible that you cannot patent a phrase like this even if it becomes closely associated with you. Was the symbol patented?

Not sure about patent, maybe trademark?

TheEnglishGent said:

Not sure about patent, maybe trademark?

Good point, changing the title.

He mentioned something about the symbol being copyrightyed on Larry King, I think. So it's likely it's got all the trademarking and whatver else he deemed necessary to keep it from being used. Not that that works 100 percent of the time, lol..

GottaLetitgo said: