World Pog Federation

A three-letter word for the latest schoolyard rage has landed at the center of a high-stakes legal battle that is being played out in an Orange County courtroom. The word is pog . And the issue that will likely be settled during a jury trial this fall is who can legally market the name for the colorful, coin-sized discs that look like milk-bottle caps. Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. is suing the World Pog Federation, disputing the federation's claims of exclusive rights to the name.

Remember the World POG Federation? The Orange County-based company that cashed in on the POG fad a few years back has resurfaced as WPF Inc., a Beverly Hills-based toy company. While the company's name makes a hidden reference to POGs, it no longer markets the game pieces, which resemble milk bottle tops.

World POG Federation, the company that made Orange County the center of the craze over a bottle caps game, is getting a much needed cash infusion from a Beverly Hills company--but is paying a hefty price. The company's dynamic founder, Alan Rypinski, will give up controlling interest in the company that he founded two years ago as the milk cap fad was booming. He also will step down as chief executive. Rypinski said he had little choice.

World POG Federation, the company that made Orange County the center of the craze over a bottle caps game, is getting a much needed cash infusion from a Beverly Hills company--but is paying a hefty price. The company's dynamic founder, Alan Rypinski, will give up controlling interest in the company that he founded two years ago as the milk cap fad was booming. He also will step down as chief executive. Rypinski said he had little choice.

A three-letter word for the latest schoolyard rage has landed at the center of a high stakes legal battle that is being played out in an Orange County courtroom. The word is POG. And the issue that will likely be settled during a jury trial this fall is who can legally market the name for the colorful, coin-sized disks that look like milk caps. Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. is suing the World Pog Federation, disputing the federation's claims of exclusive rights to the name.

It was touted as the "Pog Wars of '94." But on Tuesday, two Orange County companies battling over use of the name of the popular children's game announced an amicable end to a high-stakes courtroom contest that had been set for trial next week. In a settlement effective this week, Universal Pogs Assn. agreed to a permanent order barring the company from using the World POG Federation's "POG" trademark, alone or in combination with other words.

Remember the World POG Federation? The Orange County-based company that cashed in on the POG fad a few years back has resurfaced as WPF Inc., a Beverly Hills-based toy company. While the company's name makes a hidden reference to POGs, it no longer markets the game pieces, which resemble milk bottle tops.

A Huntington Beach company was barred Thursday from using the word "POG" to market milk caps related to the wildly popular children's game--at least until a legal battle over the name goes to trial this fall. The ruling was hailed as a victory by the Costa Mesa-based World POG Federation, which was sued last month by rival Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. But the case is far from over in the high-stakes dispute involving the game played with decorated silver-dollar-size disks.

A Huntington Beach company was barred Thursday from using the word pog to market milk caps used in the wildly popular children's game--at least until a legal battle over the name goes to trial this fall. The court ruling was hailed as a victory by the Costa Mesa-based World POG Federation, which was sued by rival Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. But the case is far from over in the dispute involving the game played with decorated discs.

The World Pog Federation of Costa Mesa has won exclusive rights to use the word pog on its disks and other game products under an agreement announced this week, after a months-long legal dispute. The Huntington Beach-based Universal Pogs Assn., which had claimed pog was a generic term for the wafer-like game pieces, will change its name to Universal Slammers Inc. and will no longer call its caps pogs.

It was touted as the "Pog Wars of '94." But on Tuesday, two Orange County companies battling over use of the name of the popular children's game announced an amicable end to a high-stakes courtroom contest that had been set for trial next week. In a settlement effective this week, Universal Pogs Assn. agreed to a permanent order barring the company from using the World POG Federation's "POG" trademark, alone or in combination with other words.

A Huntington Beach company was barred Thursday from using the word "POG" to market milk caps related to the wildly popular children's game--at least until a legal battle over the name goes to trial this fall. The ruling was hailed as a victory by the Costa Mesa-based World POG Federation, which was sued last month by rival Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. But the case is far from over in the high-stakes dispute involving the game played with decorated silver-dollar-size disks.

A Huntington Beach company was barred Thursday from using the word pog to market milk caps used in the wildly popular children's game--at least until a legal battle over the name goes to trial this fall. The court ruling was hailed as a victory by the Costa Mesa-based World POG Federation, which was sued by rival Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. But the case is far from over in the dispute involving the game played with decorated discs.

A three-letter word for the latest schoolyard rage has landed at the center of a high-stakes legal battle that is being played out in an Orange County courtroom. The word is pog . And the issue that will likely be settled during a jury trial this fall is who can legally market the name for the colorful, coin-sized discs that look like milk-bottle caps. Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. is suing the World Pog Federation, disputing the federation's claims of exclusive rights to the name.

The World Pog Federation of Costa Mesa has won exclusive rights to use the word pog on its disks and other game products under an agreement announced this week, after a months-long legal dispute. The Huntington Beach-based Universal Pogs Assn., which had claimed pog was a generic term for the wafer-like game pieces, will change its name to Universal Slammers Inc. and will no longer call its caps pogs.

Random House Inc. of New York said Monday that it has established a new division, Random House Entertainment in Newport Beach, to create children's properties that can be licensed for development as books, toys and films and in other formats. Shane DeRolf, former executive vice president and creative director of the World POG Federation, has been named president of the division.

A three-letter word for the latest schoolyard rage has landed at the center of a high stakes legal battle that is being played out in an Orange County courtroom. The word is POG. And the issue that will likely be settled during a jury trial this fall is who can legally market the name for the colorful, coin-sized disks that look like milk caps. Universal Pogs Assn. Inc. is suing the World Pog Federation, disputing the federation's claims of exclusive rights to the name.