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

[Turnpike Man]

ICQ is owned by AOL is it not?

--- John Turner <jdturner at nc.rr.com> wrote:
> web.icq.com is using the term "ICQ Instant Messenger"
> 
> 
> On Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 10:33 AM, Sinner from the Prairy wrote:
> 
> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > Hash: SHA1
> >
> > 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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> >
> >
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> >
> 
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