A Call for Authentic Media to Cancel or Amend Their Trademark on the Term “Worship Leader”

Worship Leader Magazine and/or their parent company Authentic Media has taken action against several social media accounts and either reporting them to the social media platforms or sending them formal Cease and Desist letters due to the fact they include the phrase “Worship Leader” in their username or company name.

Authentic Media owns the trademark to this phrase, but we feel it is unjustifiable as this is a job title and a phrase that has been in use prior to the time they claim to have invented it in the 1970's.

This term has been used in print at least three different times prior to 1970:

• “A Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Public Worship,” 1857
• English Oxford Dictionary citing “Spectator” Jan 24, 1863
• “Our Hymns: Their Authors and Origin” by Josiah Miller, 1883
• “Unity Volumes 21-22,” November 10, 1888
• “Rural Worship” by Hebert Herman and Henry Wintermeyer, 1947

We believe that the bullying and harassment around this generic title needs to stop. We’re not being unreasonable, we just feel that the term shouldn’t be trademarked and Authentic Media should cancel the trademark or amend it to include ‘magazine.'

We’re tired of the little guy ministries being trampled by a ridiculous trademark, we’re banding together to protect them, and by signing this petition you’re helping too.