Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["K. Jo Garner" <kelly AT metalab.unc.edu>]

Doesn't sound like they're suing you, just sending a cease and desist 
letter.

Not that it isn't ridiculous, but. 

Can you just put a (C) logo next to the words (even though you're not 
talking about their IM) and have that solve it?

In fact, is "IM" even a copyrighted phrase?

Are they just Googling everyone and finding top-ranked sites with "Instant 
Messenger" in their webpages?

Cheers
KJ

On Thu, 20 Mar 2003, Josep L. Guallar-Esteve wrote:

->Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 10:33:58 -0500
->From: Josep L. Guallar-Esteve <jlguallar AT maduixa.net>
->Reply-To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/";
->    <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
->To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/";
->    <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
->Subject: [internetworkers] [Not a joke] AOL is suing me!
->
->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
->
->
->---
->Come and play at the InterNetWorkers Web site!  
http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
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->

-- 
---
                          "One more drink, and I'll be belligerent!" 
                -- Isaiah, accepting another drink,  Mardi Gras 2003
             http://www.ibiblio.org/kelly   -=*=   kelly <@> unc.edu