From the US Patent and Trademark Office:

Word Mark: FREEBIES
Goods and Services: IC 016. US 038. G & S: periodicals; namely, magazines and newspapers with information about mail order offerings. FIRST USE: 19770901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19771109
Mark Drawing Code: (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code: 261701 261705
Serial Number: 74260536
Filing Date: March 30, 1992
Published for Opposition: April 27, 1993
Registration Number: 1807431
Registration Date: November 30, 1993
Owner: (REGISTRANT) Freebies Publishing composed of Eugene F. Zannon and Gail Zannon, both U.S. citizens PARTNERSHIP CALIFORNIA 407 State Street Santa Barbara CALIFORNIA 93101
Attorney of Record: Richard J. Ward, Jr.
Type of Mark: TRADEMARK
Register: PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text: SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator: LIVE

The interesting bit is highlighted like this - you see, the trademark refers to a printed publication, which is no longer in publication. Let's have a look at another trademark registration for a similar site that deals in freebies - Volition.com (this is a random selection, they have no connection with gofreebies.com):

Word Mark: VOLITION
Goods and Services: IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: PROVIDING MULTIPLE-USER ACCESS TO A GLOBAL COMPUTER INFORMATION NETWORK FOR THE TRANSFER AND DISSEMINATION OF A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION. FIRST USE: 19950401. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19950401
Mark Drawing Code: (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number: 75469149
Filing Date: April 16, 1998
Owner (APPLICANT): Sola, Raymond F. INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 2120 N Calle del Suerte Tucson ARIZONA 857459379
Attorney of Record: SARAH MODI
Type of Mark: SERVICE MARK
Register: PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator: LIVE

Again, the interesting description is highlighted.



To Eugene F Zannon and Gail Zannon (of freebies.com),

I believe that your claim that freebies.com is a trademark for the publishing of information on the internet is in error, and that your trademark. Furthermore, you are claiming you own trademarks on your website for which their appears to be no evidence of ownership, and that this assertion may be in violation of Federal and State Laws in the United States.

Your trademark relates to a printed publication which is no longer being produced. You are threatening sites with the words "freebies" in their name with legal action which I believe to be groundless. I suggest that you look up the meaning of the word barratry and seek a new legal advisor.

Should you wish to serve legal documents against me for the use of this domain name, you can forward it to the address found on my WHOIS entry, where you can assure it will be paid the swifted attention by my wastebasket. Any papers would need to be served by counsel in the United Kingdom or European Union.

I look forward to receiving your lawyers correspondence. If you click here you can win some free toilet paper too! You see - I really do offer freebies on this site.