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

[U. Jason Gloege Jr.]

It is.  They bought it from Mirabilis[sp?] over a year ago.

> 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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> > > Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux)
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> > > iD8DBQE+ed83SGQa4/zQ9e8RAhZfAJ97t4NX4okIXBIo5Ju3uTh2zJOvAwCgvz4a
> > > 7ymusGALquzYn6j4Q3Ofz3s=
> > > =4afr
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> > >
> > >
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