Question about film ratings

[Guest]

i was reading on the net (1st about the original production code, and later...) about how in the late 60s when the MPAA devised the ratings system, they trademarked all the ratings: G, GP, R...all except X.-- because it wasnt trademarked- it ran rampant, as we all know, and was used in adult advertising everywhere. but what i can't wrap my mind around is why the MPAA deliberatly chose not to trademark 'X' along with the others.....any film or legal buffs here?

[take5]

  contemporaryladySF said:

i was reading on the net (1st about the original production code, and later...) about how in the late 60s when the MPAA devised the ratings system, they trademarked all the ratings: G, GP, R...all except X.-- because it wasnt trademarked- it ran rampant, as we all know, and was used in adult advertising everywhere. but what i can't wrap my mind around is why the MPAA deliberatly chose not to trademark 'X' along with the others.....any film or legal buffs here?

I believe many theaters (and now cable stations, etc) refuse to show any movie that isn't rated by the MPAA. My guess is that giving a film any rating, even the worst thing they could come up with, would be some sort of official sanction of the film, and the MPAA understandably doesn't want to do that.