Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 23:15:31 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Name protection under the law (was: Re: [WSFA] Re: Q: What do you call two MDs who travel back in time to cure pivotal figures and protect the timeline?)
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 07:27 PM 4/12/05 -0400, Colleen Cahill wrote:

>trying to copyright a phrase.  You can, however, Trademark a name or phrase.

Don't you have to actually *use* the trademark to identify some aspect of
your business in order to keep it though?  Or has the meaning of the term
disappeared completely?

Also, if I remember correctly, trademarks are only protected for a given
kind of business.  If two companies are in separate marketplaces, so
there's no chance of confusion as to which company a product is from, they
can use the same name with no trademark infringement.  For instance DEC's
VAX mini-computers and some British company's VAX vacuum cleaners from
about 15 years ago.

-- Mike B.
--
If you love sausage and respect the law, don't watch either being made.