Aha Moment Argument

A clash of interests has occurred . . . over a phrase. Both insurance company Mutual of Omaha and Oprah Winfrey claim to have ownership over the saying, "aha moment," according to the Associated Press.

Mutual said that the slogan, "official sponsor of the aha moment," became part of their advertising campaign in February. But in a letter written on Tuesday, Marc Rachman, an attorney for Winfrey's Harpo Productions Inc., demanded that the company stop using the phrase, reported the L.A. Times.

Rachman said that the phrase is "synonymous in the public's mind with Ms. Winfrey." The next day, the insurance company sued in the Federal Courthouse in Omaha.

E! Online reported that in a statement released via the Omaha World-Herald, Mutual said, "The term 'aha moment' has been used widely in the public vernacular for a century. Mutual of Omaha's research to obtain its federal trademark uncovered no competing federally registered trademarks, and the trademark application received no opposition."

Spokesperson for Harpo, Inc. Lisa Halliday said that both sides are hoping to reach an agreeable resolution to the situation.