[TriLUG] [Not a joke] AOL is suing me!

[John Turner]

web.icq.com is using the term "ICQ Instant Messenger"


On Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 10:33 AM, Sinner from the Prairy wrote:

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> Hi,
>
> This is not a joke.
>
> AOL are complaining about me using plain descriptive English words.  
> First I was in outrage. Then, I read again:
>
> This is insane, abusing and inmoral. Oh, wait. We are talking about  
> AOL and
> Lawyers in the same sentence, so it makes perfect sense.
>
> Anyway, I do not want to drop perfect descriptive English words to  
> please insane, inmoral and abusing delusions of ownership by a  
> corporation.
>
> Next time, what will it be? Someone copyrighting the word "the"?
>
> "Dear Sir,
>
> Ron & Mor, attys for The THE, inc, informs you that you are using  
> their trademarked word "the"(c) (tm)  in your pages. Please remove it  
> from your pages or changed it by "(definite article in English goes  
> here)" or pay a licensing fee of
>
> BK$ 32.12
> (thiry-two and 12  Bork Dollars)
>
> per a usage of 100 "the""(c) (tm) word.
>
> Best regards,
> Ron & Mor, Attys for The THE, inc"
>
>
> - ----------  Forwarded Message  ----------
>
> Subject: Need your help: AOL whines about trademark on your pages
> Date: Thursday 20 March 2003 08:31 am
> From: Paul Jones <pjones at metalab.unc.edu>
> To: jlguallar at maduixa.net
>
> - ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 11:50:09 -0500 (EST)
> From: Paul Jones <pjones at metalab.unc.edu>
> To: Josep L. Guallar-Esteve <sinner at metalab.unc.edu>
> Cc: labratz at metalab.unc.edu
> Subject: AOL whines about trademark on your pages
>
> We just got a letter from Arent Fox, attys for AOL, telling us that  
> your
> page at http://ibiblio.org/sinner/video/messenger_en.html misuses the
> words "Instant Messenger" their trademark. They are asking that you
> instead use the generic term "real-time communication service" which  
> is to
> my mind confusing and opaque. I see from your pages that you are  
> actually
> referring to Microsoft Messenger so you would be in compliance and
> accurate if you simply dropped the "Instant" from the pages.
> Could you do that? If not, could you drop me a note telling me that you
> plan to protest the claim of AOL to "Instant Messenger" in your use of  
> the
> phrase?
> Also if you send me a snail-mail address, I will send you a copy of the
> Arent Fox letter.
>
> ======================================================================= 
> ===
>                              Paul Jones
>                     "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!"
> http://www.ibiblio.org/pjones/ at the Site Formerly Known As  
> MetaLab.unc.edu
>   pjones at ibiblio.org   voice: (919) 962-7600     fax: (919) 962-8071
> ======================================================================= 
> ====
>
> - -------------------------------------------------------
>
> - --
> http://www.ibiblio.org/sinner/     Linux User # 89976
> Running on Mandrake Linux 9.0 - Kernel  2.4.19smp  Linux Machine #  
> 38068
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