But he didn't always win. The miniad typically combines a slick graphic on front with a sales pitch, room to write a message, and a spot for a 20-cent stamp on back. The idea arrived here three years ago from Europe, where it's been commonplace for a decade. The cards promote a range of products, everything from bluejeans to Volkswagens to vodka. People see them as art.
Postcards are fun.
As the Olympics and the Superbowl prove, there's profit lurking in certain trademarked phrases. Use them commercially without paying and you could be sued for trademark infringement. And Class of 2000 Inc. means business. Some people find all this a bit galling. And some firms may have trouble proving infringement.