Can a school trademark or copyright a degree title?

I was poking around the website of one of the perennial unwonderfuls (University of Metaphysics), which in itself is a hoot, since the site design looks like the absolute latest and greatest design of, oh, 1998.

But the interesting part was found on this page

I was not aware that one could copyright (or, probably more precisely, trademark) a given degree title. Are these folks just full of it, or could a school claim exclusive rights to a particular degree?

 

Beats me.

I do know that when I saw the Mc.D., my first thought was of the golden arches were billions and billions have been served.

 

If no one has copyrighted Ph.D. yet, I claim it... I'm looking forward to the royalties

-Matt

 

It does not sound like a degree title can be copyrighted:

What Is Not Protected by Copyright?
Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols
or designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation,
lettering, or coloring; mere listings of ingredients
or contents
Source; http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf

 

Mc.D.

That is the Doctor of McDonaldology from Hamburger University.

http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/career/hamburger_university.html

 

Attending Hamburger University can earn up to 45 units of academic credit per ACE.

 

I'm no lawyer, but I wouldn't think degree titles could be copyrighted or trademarked. Wouldn't that look kind of funny if every institution of higher learning had to come up with a different title for something that is essentially the same program? Heck, even for the degree of Doctor of Hamburgerology, shouldn't Burger King University and Wendy's University (or any other burger joint's institution of higher education) have the right to award said degree title?

 

Disney World awards a Mousters and a Ducktorate.

 

Disney College Program
http://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp_backup/educators/educators.html

 

There really is a Disney University, and no they do not give degrees. But you get paid to go, so its fun.

 

The next thing is people will be applying to Eternia University to study under Prince Adam to earn a MU: Masters of the Universe