Trademark News for 23-Sep-2005

    'NewsFactor Network - - In Defense of the Linux Trademark
    At one time only Bayer could sell acetylsalicylic acid using the name Aspirin and everyone knew the source of the product. But through lack of active enforcement of the trademark it eventually fell into use as a generic moniker for the drug.

    'Google accused of misleading in Gmail row
    The row between Google and a tiny British research firm contesting the use of the GMail trademark looks set to escalate after the internet search giant was accused of making "inaccurate and misleading statements". In an e-mail exchange a copy of which has been seen by Times Online the chief executive of Independent International Investment Research - which is threatening legal action over the trademark for GMail - takes Google to task over official comments ...

    'Computer Business Review: Linux Trademark Group Denies Registration Failure
    "The Linux Mark Institute... has denied reports that it has 'failed' to register the Linux trademark in Australia and clarified its position on Linux trademark licensing..."

    'NewsFactor: In Defense of the Linux Trademark
    "Intellectual property can give lawyers a headache. When it does most of us are conditioned to ask the druggist for Aspirin not the medical term for the active ingredient 'acetylsalicylic acid...'"

    'Debian Questions Trademark Policy
    An anonymous reader writes "The OSS/developer community at large is paying more attention to the trademark issue especially since Linus Torvalds bid to trademark the name 'Linux' in Australia failed recently. Branden Robinson Debian's project leader says the current trademark policy needs updating to ensure it has the appropriate level of protection against legal challenges. Robinson said there are various questions that project members must address when deciding how to change the policy. These include whether Debian Linux should have a trademark at all and whether the trademark can be used to penalize those who 'prey upon' the community."

    'Linux trademark group denies registration failure
    The Linux Mark Institute set up by Linus Torvalds in 2002 to protect the Linux trademark has denied reports that it has "failed" to register the Linux trademark in Australia and clarified its position on Linux trademark licensing. The LMI was set up by Mr Torvalds with John Hall as non-profit organization to license the use of the word Linux and ensure it was retained as a trademark by being "vigorously defended" in keeping with ...

    'Debian trademark policy under question - Software - News - ZDNet Asia
    ZDNet Asia Top Tech Awards: Nominate now Friday September 23 2005 11:21 AM The leader of the Debian Linux distribution has called for changes to be made to the open-source project's trademark policy to ensure it has the appropriate level of protection against legal challenges. states that businesses can use the Debian trademark if they make a CD of the but cannot use Debian in the name of their business.

    'Debian trademark policy under question
    The leader of the Debian Linux distribution has called for changes to be made to the open-source project's trademark policy to ensure it has the appropriate level of protection against legal challenges. states that businesses can use the Debian trademark if they make a CD of the but cannot use Debian in the name of their business.

    'Trademark problems hit Debian
    on the heels of a failed attempt to trademark Linux in Australia the leader of the Debian Linux distribution has called for changes to the project's trademark policy. Branden Robinson Debian's project leader said that Linux lacked appropriate levels of protection against legal challenges.


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