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Trademarks

Started by furby100 Oct 3, 2000 at 2:27 PM 3 replies 400+ views

Original Post

159

Oct 3, 2000 at 2:27 PM

I was wondering, if a name is an obvious parody of a trademark, can the trademark owner sue, eg if I called my game company Positronic Arts or Duotronic Arts could EA sue me? Because I was wondering how far trademarks extend. ------------------------------ #pragma twice

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Ironblayde

Oct 3, 2000 at 3:44 PM

Hmmm... I think trademarks might get a little fuzzy when it comes to images (logos and such), but for names I think it's pretty clear. If you used a logo that only differs from EA's upon close inspection, I think there might be some problems... but both of the names you mentioned should be just fine to use. If trademarks covered 'similar' names with that big of a radius, there would be no original names left.

-Ironblayde
Aeon Software

Edited by - Ironblayde on October 3, 2000 4:45:17 PM

ahw

178

ahw

Oct 3, 2000 at 4:21 PM

I don''t think it''s a problem, for instance, my next OS is gonna be called "Doors", with such titles as "Sentence", "Entry", "Rule", "Acrylic", etc ...

more seriously, the answer is no, unless my lecturer was talking sh!te during my Legal stuff lectures, which I don''t think is the case.

youpla :-P

furby100

Author

159

furby100

Oct 4, 2000 at 2:45 AM

What about presentation software, like ElectricalSocket (Powerpoint)?

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#pragma twice

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Jiggold

Oct 4, 2000 at 7:45 AM

As far as software, I believe that the trademark only applies to the name only. The way software functions can''t be copyrighted. Think of it as an appliance. No one can sue you for trademark infringment for making a microwave or refigerator. But, call it a Whirlpool and then you''ll have problems.

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"Until next time, boobie. Push the button, Frank."

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