Date   : Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:29:57 +0200
From   : rick@... (Rick Murray)
Subject: A new Element 14

Anders Carlsson wrote:

> Instead of buying them out, perhaps you could ask for co-operation, making 
> them add links to BBC Micro (and RiscPC) pages.

That would be the most amical solution.

The problem is, it would be possible to "go legal" on behalf of them 
passing off on the reputation/good will (etc) of an established brand 
(trademark application/status notwithstanding). But who is going to 
stand up for the Acorn that we know? I don't think "just anybody" can, 
though the company will at least have to acknowledge that that they have 
taken on the name of an old computer company with over 20 years of 
history - so it would be pointless for them to try sending cease and 
desist letters to everybody - after all, if I can't call my Acorn 
FileStore and Acorn FileStore, what the hell do I call it? [*] The best 
all-round solution for everybody is for them to say that they ARE Acorn 
Computers, but if you are looking for blahblahblah, that was an earlier 
company of the same name to which we are not related - here's a bunch of 
links that may be useful...


* - I'd probably ignore a C&D should I be sent one, my kit says "Acorn 
Computers" all over it in print, engraving, mask-painted, burned into 
the ROM... a bit of legal waffle ain't gonna change all of that!


Best wishes,

Rick.


-- 
Rick Murray, irregular internet access at local library.
BBC B: DNFS, 2 x 5.25" floppies, EPROM prog, Acorn TTX
E01S FileStore, A3000/A5000/RiscPC/various PCs/blahblah...