Kent’s ‘America 250’ committee prepares to change name

KENT — The town board formerly known as the America 250 subcommittee is to change its name due to a federal wordmark on the phrase. The recently discovered legal snag will also require the rebranding or discontinuation of any merchandise or fundraising materials bearing the title, announced subcommittee chair Matt Frasher during the Board of Selectmen’s Jan. 20 meeting.

The group, which includes town officials, cultural institution leaders and members of the public, was formed in 2023 to plan Kent’s participation in the national celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary this summer. Frasher explained that although the federal government had apparently copyrighted the name in 2019 — both with and without a space in between “America” and “250” — that information did not reach many Connecticut commission chairs until an inter-committee meeting earlier that afternoon with other municipal chairs in the state chapter.

Frasher said that a slew of legal actions had sprung up across the country recently in response to America 250 merchandise being sold or distributed.

While programming and activities notices bearing the “America 250” title will be allowed via a sublicensing agreement that the BOS eventually voted to sign, any fundraising efforts or materials that use the phrase risk copyright infringement.

Frasher recommended the BOS change the name to “United States 250” or “250th,” while Selectman Lynn Harrington suggested “U.S.A. 250” instead, which Frasher said would work.