[DGD] Trademark/copyright concern

[M. C. Skinner]

The time I have violated trademarks they usually ask through a ceased
and desist letter, which you will have some time to comply with. I know
that you usually can use the same trademarks as other companies so long
as you are in a completely different area or if it seems that the name
or phrase is widely used by other people. If while doing a search for
the name you see many people using it in the same method as you would be
using it. A simple way, but not guaranteed method, is to determine
whether the word or phrase is a trademark by searching at
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk.
for the US. I do not have the link for European trademark searches. I do
remember that in the US trademarks do not have to be registered in order
to be considered trademarks-- they have to be adequately defended.
European trademarks must be registered (though I suppose there may be
variations based on particular countries) or else it is not a valid
trademark in europe (though since I don't live there I could be wrong). 

Note that I am not a legal expert, but just sharing what I learned when
I received a C&D letter.


On Thu, 2007-04-19 at 12:38 -0700, Shentino wrote:
> Does anyone know of any trademarks/copyrights affecting the following
> bits of text?
> 
> Frobozz Magic Co. (zork)
> You are in a maze of little twisty passages (zork)
> Yendor (nethack)
> 
> If so, what must I do to use them, if that's possible?
> 
> Maybe I'm being a little paranoid, but I'd really hate it if my shiny
> new mud ran afoul of the law.
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