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From: reintom@rocky2.UUCP (Tom Reingold)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: VC
Message-ID: <315@rocky2.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Jan-87 12:07:13 EST
Article-I.D.: rocky2.315
Posted: Wed Jan 14 12:07:13 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Jan-87 18:43:39 EST
References: <455@sii.UUCP> <1532@kitty.UUCP> <452@gouldsd.UUCP>
Organization: Rockefeller Univ.,N.Y.C 10021
Lines: 42
Summary: There may be respect due.

In article <452@gouldsd.UUCP>, mjranum@gouldsd.UUCP (Marcus J Ranum) writes:
> > In article <455@sii.UUCP>, drd@sii.UUCP (David Dick) writes:
> > > 'vc' is a registered trademark of Software Innovations, Inc. for
> > > our UNIX(R) spreadsheet.
> 
> 	Gee, you *CAN'T* be using the letter 'c' in 'vc' !!  That letter
> was copyrighted a long time ago, and  'c' has been in use ever since.
> For that matter, 'v' is probably a registered trademark of someone or
> other. Be real !
> 	Maybe you're going to sue anyone who uses parts of the alphabet ?


I have a slightly more moderate view than you do.  I think that
there is a place for trademarks and they should be respected but
I also think that the rights of all trademarks should be
enforced.  Neither do I think that all trademarks are
enforceable.  I recently read in PC Week Magazine about a court
case where Computer Land tried to sue Business Land because of
the "Land" in their name.  Business Land has a similar name and
offers the same type of service as Computer Land and it was
claimed that there could be confusion on the part of potential
clients resulting in loss of business for Computer Land.

As I hope you know, laws are often decided case by case,
according to what seems appropriate at the moment, given the
current circumstances.  A given situation could be decided
differently at different times.  Well this judge saw this as
ridiculous.  He also had a sense of humor.  He threw the case
out, saying something like "What!?  Next are you going to sue
Disneyland?!"

So "vc" may be a hard trademark to defend because it is short and
so directly describes the programs purpose which is not a
creation by the authors of the "vc" program.  If it is
registered, however, I might keep away from it.  Their law suit,
though improbable, could win, depending on the sense of humor
(and other things) of those involved.
-- 
Tom Reingold;  The Rockefeller University; 1230 York Av; NY 10021
PHONE: (212) 570-7709 [office]; (212) 304-2504 [home]
ARPANET: reintom@rockefeller.arpa BITNET: REINTOM@ROCKVAX
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