Mutual sues Oprah over ‘aha moment’

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Insurance company Mutual of Omaha is suing Oprah Winfrey and her production company over use of the phrase “aha moment.”

Mutual said in a statement released Friday that it has been granted preliminary approval of a federal trademark for the slogan “official sponsor of the aha moment,” which became part of Mutual’s national advertising in February.

But the Omaha-based company said Winfrey and Harpo Productions Inc. is claiming rights to the phrase “aha moment.”

In a letter dated Tuesday, Harpo attorney Marc Rachman said the syndicated talk show host has been using “Aha! Moment” as her signature phrase, “which is now synonymous in the public’s mind with Ms. Winfrey.”

Mutual’s use of the phrase causes confusion over whether there’s a relationship between the insurance company and Winfrey, the letter states.

The Chicago-based Harpo demanded in the letter that Mutual abandon its trademark application and stop using “aha moment.”