Anybody know how Consumers Union lost control of the phrase "best buy"?

[Bossy Monkey]

I don't mean with regard to the big-box electronics chain, but instead regarding the endless litany of commercials over the last ten years trumpeting "named a 'best buy' by Consumer's Digest." It's pretty obvious, at least I think, that these folks are misleading the public that the item in question has been rated a best buy by Consumers Union/Consumer Reports, an independent testing organization that refuses advertising and refuses to let its name be used in advertising precisely to avoid appearing to be affected by corporate money. Did Consumers Union never trademark/servicemark the phrase? Are they really that naive?
Maybe Consumer's Digest is a great magazine/publication/organization/ whatever, but it appears suspicious to say the least. Doesn't it?

It's also true that I haven't looked at Consumer Reports in years. If they've dropped "best buy," well, it still looks a little shady, but if this is the case, do let me know. As should be abundantly clear by now, I don't mind looking like an idiot.

If this goes nowhere, I'll eventually ask the mods to move it to The Media or something.