Teachers Union Settles Campaign Literature Dispute

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- The Montgomery County Education Association has reached a settlement with Attorney General Doug Gansler's former campaign for governor over the use of campaign literature that resembled the union's apple-shaped ballot.

In the settlement announced Thursday, the campaign acknowledged the union's Apple Ballot was properly filed and registered on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's principal register.

Tom Israel, the MCEA's executive director, says the union's ballot design is a known, trusted and trademarked brand.

Gansler says the campaign did not do anything wrong by exercising the right to issue political speech. He says the settlement simply recognizes the union has a validly filed trademark.

The union supported Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in June's Democratic primary. Gansler's campaign released handouts that said Gansler had support from teachers across Montgomery County.

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