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

[Joseph Tate]

ICQ was bought out by AOL, so this isn't a non-aol source of Instant 
Messenger.

John Turner 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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