North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

Look up Common-law trademarks.  They don't  have a set expiration.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003. 
For even more grape lessons, go to  http://www.grapeschool.com
For growing supplies and more;  http://www.grapegrowersolutions.com

On Mar 12, 2007, at 9:11 AM, Michael Dossett wrote:

This is not true.  Getting a Trademark only prevents
people from using the trademarked name.  Getting a
plant patent gives the patent holder the right to
exclude anyone who is not authorized from propagating
that stock, period.  Patents expire after 20 years but
trademarks do not expire as long as the fees are still
paid...

Michael Dossett
Corvallis, Oregon