28. Trademark – The Battle Starts

Hawayo Takata called both, the energy and the practice, “Reiki”, short for Usui Shiki Ryoho (Reiki). This stays so until early 1990s. With the emergence of different forms confusion spreads.

An effort to trademark causes bad blood in the community. Phyllis Furumoto challenges Joop Hilger’s registration.

He settled out of court but it took 2 years and a lot of money. I was awarded the right to trademark.

Formalities to erase Hilger's trademark take time, during which Reiki becomes publicly known and can no longer be trademarked. Many wrongly assume that trademarking would have made Phyllis rich. 

I ended up without any trademarks, which is actually good.

Other forms of Reiki practice trademark under their own name separating themselves from “Usui System of Natural healing” and thus create clarity…

…which was wonderful.