Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai's gonna want a royalty...

Notwithstanding the fact that Kabbalah is an ancient tradition, the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles, home to such Torah luminaries as Madonna and Britney Spears, has evidently tried to trademark the red string 'round the wrist used to stave off the evil eye. The U.S. has turned them down.

No word yet on whether the author of the Zohar is entitled to compensation...

Update: Thanks, Professor Volokh!