Meredith Baxter Alleges Ex-Husband David Birney Abused Her

Meredith Baxter has revealed in a new book, "Untitled," that she was a victim of emotional and physical abuse.  Baxter, the actress best known for playing hippie mom Elyse Keaton on the 1980s sitcom "Family Ties," said that the abuser was her then-husband David Birney, who has denied the allegations.

In her memoir, Baxter alleges that Birney hit her more than once. "It was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't tell you which hand hit me, or even how hard," she writes. "I do recall thinking, 'I'd better not get up because he's going to hit me again.' "

She writes that she coped with the marital violence by drinking heavily, but has been sober since 1990.

Birney was her former co-star on the television show, "Bridget Loves Birney," which ran from 1972-73. The couple dated for two years, marrying for 15 years and having three children together. They divorced in 1989.

Birney, 71, has denied all allegations, according to the NBC interview. ABCNews.com was unable to reach the actor for comment.

IN PHOTOS: FAMILY TIES, WHERE ARE THEY NOW

The 63-year-old Baxter discussed her relationship on NBC's "Today" show. She made headlines on the show last year, when she revealed she was a lesbian.

Baxter, who has been divorced three times, said it took her years to change her "victim" mentality. She described herself as "mousey, quiet and retiring" -- the classic match for a dominating husband.

"What I got out of it eventually was I had to change my thinking," Baxter said. "I had to look, if I did not want to be a victim -- and I'd been committed to being a victim for a long time because it felt really warm and comfortable and familiar -- but it was a disastrous position to be in. So I had to change my thinking. I had to look at, what was my part? What was in my thinking that told me it was okay to be in this relationship?"

When asked why she stayed with Birney so long, she said, "That's what everyone would want to know. I didn't know I had a choice. I didn't know I could go."

"It wasn't an accident that we were together," Baxter said. "He's not going to pick someone who's on top of themselves and confident and aggressive, no, he needs to pick someone for him to be who he needed to be, it needed to be someone who was mousy and quiet and retiring, and that's what I was."

USA TRADEMARK REGISTRATIONS

First, it's not possible to copyright a slogan.

Copyrights can be obtained for things of an artistic nature. This includes, of course, poetry, films, sculptures, music, fiction, etc. But can also include things that may not necessarily seem "artistic" in the general sense of the word. Copyrights can also be obtained for advertising copy, games, software programs and blueprints, to name just a few. USA TRADEMARK

It may be possible to file for a trademark for the slogan as long as it's used to indicate & identify the source of goods/services.

If we're talking about a merely informational slogan or a slogan that conveys advertising information, it's not eligible for trademark registration.

Let's take a look at what the USPTO says (and then what that actually means):

"Slogan or phrases used on items such as t-shirts...have been refused registration as ornamentation that purchasers will perceive as conveying a message rather than indicating source of the goods."

What that essentially means is that if your slogan is merely displayed on the goods themselves and is NOT identified as the source, then the USPTO will likely refuse registration. This is a tricky, gray area so seek advice should you have a slogan that you intend to use for products.

"Use of a...slogan to convey advertising or promotional information...is not service mark use."

The concept is similar to that for goods as described above. Basically, if your slogan describes your service and/or serves as advertising copy, it's not likely eligible for trademark registration. Again, this is a tricky, gray area so seek advice should you have a slogan that you intend to use for services.

http://trademark-1.com/