CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth says that Gene Simmons is an “idiot” for attempting to trademark the so-called “devil’s horns” hand gesture.
The KISS bassist/vocalist withdrew his application to trademark the symbol in late June — less than two weeks after filing with the federal copyright office.
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Most music fans slammed Simmons for the trademark request, saying the symbol has become ubiquitous and means different things to different people.
Ronnie James Dio‘s widow Wendy also criticized Simmons for attempting to trademark the hand sign. She told TheWrap: “To try to make money off of something like this is disgusting. It belongs to everyone — it doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s a public domain, it shouldn’t be trademarked.”
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Asked by France’s Duke TV for his thoughts on Simmons‘s trademark attempt, Dani said (see video below): “I think Wendy Dio said that Ronnie did it first, but it didn’t belong to him either. It’s an ancient symbol.
“Gene Simmons is just an idiot,” he continued. “If he could, he’d patent the air. Do you know what I mean? I’m sure he’s invented everything anyway — the lightbulb; it wasn’t Edison, it was [Gene]. Trees, he invented them. Shoes, walking… I attribute everything to the great Gene Simmons.”