From South Carolina-A South Carolina Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday that prevents The Episcopal Church and parishes and individuals associated with it from assuming the identity of the Diocese of South Carolina.
The judge's order states, in part: "No individual, organization, association or entity, whether incorporated or not, may use, assume, or adopt in any way, directly or indirectly, the registered names and the seal or mark of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina."
The order specifically prohibits all but a handful of Diocesan employees, directors and trustees who are specified by name from using the Diocese's identity.
The judge effectively prevents TEC, a voluntary association, and the parishes who support it, from claiming to own or operate the Diocese of South Carolina, an entity that it insists it owns but whose very existence predates The Episcopal Church. The Diocese of South Carolina was established in 1785 and was a founder of TEC nearly five years later. The Diocese is a legally established South Carolina corporation and its trademarks are protected under state law.
TEC and several local parishes that remain associated with it have begun to assume the Diocese's identity and use its seals, name and trademarks on websites, ads in newspapers, and other documents sent to parish corporations and individuals, and in registration forms mailed to the parishes within the Diocese stating its intent to take actions at its upcoming meeting on Jan. 26.
More here-
http://www.abcnews4.com/story/20664384/temporary-restraining-order-bans-use-of-episcopal-dioceses-trademarks
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