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

[Steven Hilton]

If they're doing it to you, I imagine their sending similar messages to
other parties (http://jabber.com, etc). Maybe you could look into
pooling information and resources?



On Thu, 2003-03-20 at 10:33, Sinner from the Prairy wrote:
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> 
> 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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-- 
Steven Hilton <mshiltonj at libertystorm.com>