It's not enough for Oprah Winfrey to earn more than the GDP of several African nations. Now she wants to own public domain phrases. Lawyers for Oprah have sent a cease and desist letter to Mutual of Omaha for using the phrase "aha moment" in their advertising. According to the lawyers, that phrase is synonymous in the public mind with Ms. Winfrey.
Really?
Those of us in the puzzle community have been using that phrase for years to describe the ideal result of a sublime puzzle. Allow me to direct both parties in this legal scuffle to Martin Gardner's aha! Insight, which used the phrase as early as 1978.
Perhaps Oprah could make that her next book club selection.
Posted by Peter at April 27, 2009 10:24 PMShe'll have to sue the Exploratorium as well; they have an exibit dedicated to the "AHA Moment".
Posted by: Scott on April 28, 2009 11:06 AM