Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sdcrdcf.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!darrelj From: darrelj@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Darrel VanBuer) Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards Subject: Re: UNIX trademark Message-ID: <1529@sdcrdcf.UUCP> Date: Tue, 4-Dec-84 12:27:12 EST Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.1529 Posted: Tue Dec 4 12:27:12 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 7-Dec-84 00:40:05 EST References: <6012@brl-tgr.ARPA> <426@elecvax.OZ> Reply-To: darrelj@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Darrel VanBuer) Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica Lines: 20 Summary: Trademarks have strong common law standing in addition to legislated status. A registered trademark (which can be marked with R in a circle) is one which has been "registered" with the US Patent and Trademark office. It can be a somewhat expensive process, but once approved you have a symbol verified different from other trademarks, and with strong legal protection. You can establish a common law trademark (marked with TM) by simply using a distinctive mark on your product, and defend it by demonstrating your prior use of the mark in a geographic and/or product area. You generally are not viewed as infringing a trademark in there is no possibility of confusion with another use (e.g. you could likely market you own Unix brand ice cream since it's so remote from phones and computers). -- Darrel J. Van Buer, PhD System Development Corp. 2500 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90406 (213)820-4111 x5449 ...{allegra,burdvax,cbosgd,hplabs,ihnp4,orstcs,sdcsvax,ucla-cs,akgua} !sdcrdcf!darrelj VANBUER@USC-ECL.ARPA