Idea

Correct. I own a trademark on my brand. I actually own 2. (for 2 different product types) If someone wants to use my brand name on something outside the scope of those 2 product types, there is NOTHING I can do about it. For those who don't understand, it's simple.

McDonald's owns the trademark on their name. No similar food joint can go and name themselves McDonald's. But, if you want to open up a "McDonald's" clothing, tire shop, thrift store, etc... McDonald's cannot stop you.

And trademarks were NOT MEANT to cover t-shirt phrases. How it has gotten to this level is beyond me and at some point someone is going to put a stop to it. Trademarks are meant to IDENTIFY BUSINESSES. So, a business name, or SLOGAN, etc... (think "McDonald's" and "I'm Lovin' It" ...Your business cannot have 200 slogans, you'd have one. And maybe over time you'd adopt another, etc... Over the course of MANY years, maybe you'd have 10 or so that you've used. But, it IS NOT MEANT for you to file every t-shirt slogan as a trademark. Designs are supposed to be covered under copyrights, but a bunch of morons began filing them as trademarks. This practice will be stopped and the most likely scenario is that those people will be out a lot of money and have invalid trademarks. I look forward to the day when the USPTO cleans up their act.

Yes, exactly, the main issue here is not people applying for Trademarks on particular phrases etc. (although USPTO need some serious improvements over allowing items to be Trademarked that in theory under the law should not be!) but instead the issue is that Amazon seem to be allowing Trademark owners to subsequently request existing designs using those phrases be removed from MBA when in fact US Trademark law specifically attaches 'prior user' protection status for locations and goods that they had been using that now trademarked item prior to the application or approval of the that Trademark - unfortunately I don't see Amazon changing their dodgy approach in this area unless there are any Merch sellers with serious clout who challenge them on it, certainly my own levals of legal advice are financially restricted to my modest income :(

Amazon isn't going to get into the business of deciding whether or not a trademark is valid. They aren't going to expend any extra time on this issue. If they get a complaint from someone who has filed a trademark, they are going to pull it and move on. They aren't making a TON of money off of any one design and it's far easier (and less time consuming) for them to just do as requested and continue making money on everything that isn't pulled. If you have an issue with how the trademark system works, complain to the USPTO. They are to blame for the ridiculous filings. (though most will be denied down the road and the idiots who filed will be out money because there are NO REFUNDS) But, I wouldn't expect Amazon (or any other company for that matter - just look around at other PoD's, not one of them fights ridiculous trademark claims) to get involved in fighting trademarks for things they are not personally involved in. That's on us.