I mean, they haven't taken it to court. They probably have a brand management team (understandably, because that impacts use of the subway) and some overzealous employee took an hour to file a complaint with Etsy.
Overzealous is an understatement. My work isn't even remotely related to IP or the MTA and even I've heard of this MTA attorney before. This is the same guy who filed to trademark "if you see something, say something".[1] A safety slogan.
Every few years one of his ridiculous filings or C&D letters seem to pop up on a blog or in the news.
How is that valid? I'm pretty sure it was the CTA's catchphrase well before that was filed...
Edit: Wikipedia says the CTA started using it in response to the 9/11 attacks, but the reference goes to a generic security page (probably changed since it was added). Did find a dated reference from 2004 though, over a year before that trademark was filed: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/cta-metra-beef-up-securi...
