George Ransom Turner III Calls for Federal Protection, Creator Education, and Legal Sponsorship to Defend Black Intellectual Property
Disabled Veteran-Owned Festival Launches National Campaign to Protect Black-Owned Trademarks
Headline:
George Ransom Turner III Calls for Federal Protection, Creator Education, and Legal Sponsorship to Defend Black Intellectual Property
Atlanta, GA – May 29, 2025 — In a bold call to action, George Ransom Turner III, a 100% Disabled Veteran and federal trademark owner of Orange Crush Festival®, has launched a nationwide initiative to protect Black-owned trademarks and support creators in legally securing the intellectual property that drives their culture, business, and movements.
The campaign—called #ProtectTheMark—seeks to address the growing epidemic of cultural appropriation, unauthorized commercialization, and media confusion surrounding Black-created brands, especially in music, events, fashion, and digital platforms.
🎖️ A VETERAN FIGHTING A NEW WAR: FOR IP OWNERSHIP
Turner, who legally owns and operates the Orange Crush Festival® brand across multiple trademark classes, has spent the last several years fighting back against unauthorized use of the festival name by outside parties.
“Too many Black creators are being erased from their own ideas,” said Turner. “I trademarked Orange Crush Festival to protect what our culture built—and now I’m using that protection to help others do the same.”
Turner’s brand now includes:
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Orange Crush University)
A festival + event permit division
A DAO LLC cryptocurrency (Crush Coin™)
A digital magazine and creator label
His trademark-backed ownership has enabled him to legally challenge media inaccuracies, file cease-and-desist letters, and enforce exclusive rights to permit the Orange Crush Festival across Georgia.
📜 CAMPAIGN GOALS
The #ProtectTheMark campaign has three primary goals:
1.
Raise National Awareness
Turner will launch press, podcast appearances, and university panels to educate Black creators about:
What a trademark is
Why ownership matters
How to fight misuse and stop unauthorized events or products
2.
Create a Roadmap for IP Protection
The campaign includes a free online toolkit at www.OrangeCrushFestival.org/legal featuring:
Step-by-step trademark registration guidance
Sample cease-and-desist letters
Links to USPTO forms and support resources
Legal success stories and interviews with IP lawyers of color
3.
Partner With Legal Sponsors and IP Advocates
Turner is inviting IP attorneys, law firms, HBCU law programs, and corporate sponsors to join the campaign by offering:
Pro bono consultations for creators
Trademark clinics at festivals and universities
Sponsorship of grants to help cover filing fees for small business owners
🤝 A MOVEMENT FOR LEGACY, NOT JUST LIABILITY
Turner emphasizes that this movement isn’t about gatekeeping—it’s about building generational wealth through legal ownership of what Black culture creates.
“We are not protecting trademarks just to win lawsuits. We’re protecting them so our kids can inherit them. Culture is capital, and ownership is the foundation.”
📬 GET INVOLVED
Law firms, creators, universities, and press outlets interested in joining or covering the #ProtectTheMark campaign can contact:
George Ransom Turner III
Email: info@orangecrushfestival.org
Website: www.OrangeCrushFestival.org/legal
Instagram: @OrangeCrush.Festival
📘 ABOUT ORANGE CRUSH FESTIVAL®
Orange Crush Festival® is a federally registered trademark owned and operated by George Ransom Turner III. It is one of the first veteran-owned cultural trademarks in the spring break and music festival industry, now expanded into a full ecosystem including a university nonprofit, cryptocurrency (Crush Coin™), artist label, and civic engagement platform.
