Comments on: Trademark guidelines make for unclear copy http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy Writing, marketing and technology Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:56:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matthew Stibbe http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-741616 Matthew Stibbe Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:52:11 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-741616 Yes, I think that's probably good practical advice. But trademark bugs still make for ugly copy. Yes, I think that’s probably good practical advice. But trademark bugs still make for ugly copy.

]]> By: thenakedlistener http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-741615 thenakedlistener Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:51:00 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-741615 As a trained but non-practising lawyer, here are the guidelines I used to give to my editor: 1. (a) If it is for straight editorial use with minimal legal purposes, then leave out the marking symbols. The purpose of the copy and surrounding text will be enough to give context in most cases. 1. (b) Failing (a) above, use marking symbols on first reference and leave out on second references, depending on the nature and presentation of the section of text. 2. If it is for corporate or legal use, use the marking symbols. Do not go against lawyers' recommendations, for they know the reasons why, not for us to question why. Just my twopence worth. As a trained but non-practising lawyer, here are the guidelines I used to give to my editor:

1. (a) If it is for straight editorial use with minimal legal purposes, then leave out the marking symbols. The purpose of the copy and surrounding text will be enough to give context in most cases.

1. (b) Failing (a) above, use marking symbols on first reference and leave out on second references, depending on the nature and presentation of the section of text.

2. If it is for corporate or legal use, use the marking symbols. Do not go against lawyers’ recommendations, for they know the reasons why, not for us to question why.

Just my twopence worth.

]]> By: james http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-498035 james Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:38:56 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-498035 I saw http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy and wanted to mention a useful site: http://www.FreePatentsOnline.com It provides free patent searching, free PDF downloading, allows annoting documents and sharing them, and free alerts for new documents. If you have a spot, a link to let your users know abou the site would be great. I saw http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy and wanted to mention a useful site: http://www.FreePatentsOnline.com

It provides free patent searching, free PDF downloading, allows annoting documents and sharing them, and free alerts for new documents.

If you have a spot, a link to let your users know abou the site would be great.

]]> By: Janet Ellis http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-481719 Janet Ellis Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:46:35 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-481719 The <a href="http://www.secureyourtrademark.com" rel="nofollow">trademarking</a> symbols are completely optional. You don't have to use them at all<a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/trademark.html" rel="nofollow">.</a> The trademarking symbols are completely optional. You don’t have to use them at all.

]]> By: Bad Language / My own private aircraft carrier http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-351084 Bad Language / My own private aircraft carrier Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:46:25 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-351084 [...] If you are wondering why I write LEGO in all-caps, it’s because of their copy / trademark guidelines. It’s been ten years or so since I was designing LEGO games for them but I still can’t help myself. For more on this topic see: Trademark Guidelines make for unclear copy. [...] [...] If you are wondering why I write LEGO in all-caps, it’s because of their copy / trademark guidelines. It’s been ten years or so since I was designing LEGO games for them but I still can’t help myself. For more on this topic see: Trademark Guidelines make for unclear copy. [...]

]]> By: Jonathan Pasky http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-331500 Jonathan Pasky Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:30:44 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-331500 Matthew, As an IP attorney, I understand your frustration. Constant "marking", as it is called, is used to give notice to the consuming public that a particular word or symbol is being claimed as a trademark/servicemark (™) and/or is registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (®). Sometimes this can get out of hand in marketing copy. While companies understandably want to protect their marks, one or two very conspicuous uses of ™ or ® should be sufficient. Trademarks/servicemarks always need to be used as an adjective decribing the product or service: so "Adobe® Acrobat® 8 Professional software" or "Adobe® software" is ok, but calling it "Adobe Acrobat" nominalizes "Acrobat" and dilutes the trademark. Savvy marketing/PR/copy experts will give proper notice but keep the attorneys and brand managers happy with minimal, but very noticeable, proper notice in the copy. Matthew,

As an IP attorney, I understand your frustration. Constant “marking”, as it is called, is used to give notice to the consuming public that a particular word or symbol is being claimed as a trademark/servicemark (™) and/or is registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (®).

Sometimes this can get out of hand in marketing copy. While companies understandably want to protect their marks, one or two very conspicuous uses of ™ or ® should be sufficient.

Trademarks/servicemarks always need to be used as an adjective decribing the product or service: so “Adobe® Acrobat® 8 Professional software” or “Adobe® software” is ok, but calling it “Adobe Acrobat” nominalizes “Acrobat” and dilutes the trademark. Savvy marketing/PR/copy experts will give proper notice but keep the attorneys and brand managers happy with minimal, but very noticeable, proper notice in the copy.

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-325941 David Bradley Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:37:10 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-325941 Tom, shouldn't that be <em>Intra</em>Word Capitalisation(TM) db Tom, shouldn’t that be IntraWord Capitalisation(TM)

db

]]> By: MarketingBlurb http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-325552 MarketingBlurb Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:55:47 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-325552 <strong>When Trademarks Get in the Way...</strong> I read a great post by Matthew Stibbe at Bad Language this week that talks about a topic that has always bothered me - trademark symbols.  Now, I'm not saying I don't like the legal purpose of trademarks.  I'm all...... When Trademarks Get in the Way…

I read a great post by Matthew Stibbe at Bad Language this week that talks about a topic that has always bothered me – trademark symbols.  Now, I'm not saying I don't like the legal purpose of trademarks.  I'm all……

]]> By: Jacob Skir http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-324551 Jacob Skir Sat, 08 Dec 2007 09:59:05 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-324551 Matthew, the great way to invent a new name is to think about your own personal name. What is the Google's term "PageRank"? What does it stand for? Does it stand for the word "page" (= a page of an Internet site)? Or for the name of the Google's cofounder Larry Page? At the end of the day, it makes no difference. You invent a new word pointing both to your personal name and to the technical/scientific/political term. Another great example is the memorable PR move of Russian tsar Peter the Great. He founded the city of Saint Petersburg in 1703. What's the official explanation? That it was named after Saint Peter the Apostle. Then why not to name it after Saint Paul? Because Peter himself named it. A fresh Internet example is Craigslist (a centralized network of online classified advertisements) founded in 1995 by Craig Newmark. When you invent a new term, try to think about your own personal name. Matthew,
the great way to invent a new name is to think about your own personal name.
What is the Google’s term “PageRank”? What does it stand for? Does it stand for the word “page” (= a page of an Internet site)? Or for the name of the Google’s cofounder Larry Page?
At the end of the day, it makes no difference. You invent a new word pointing both to your personal name and to the technical/scientific/political term.
Another great example is the memorable PR move of Russian tsar Peter the Great. He founded the city of Saint Petersburg in 1703. What’s the official explanation? That it was named after Saint Peter the Apostle. Then why not to name it after Saint Paul? Because Peter himself named it.
A fresh Internet example is Craigslist (a centralized network of online classified advertisements) founded in 1995 by Craig Newmark.
When you invent a new term, try to think about your own personal name.

]]> By: Bruce Pilgrim http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy/comment-page-1#comment-323892 Bruce Pilgrim Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:20:41 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/trademark-guidelines-make-for-unclear-copy#comment-323892 I worked with a corporate lawyer who tried to get me to insert trademarks into quotes cited in case studies, as in: "We've been using Widget(R) software to cure genital warts with great success." I explained to her that people don't actually speak that way, but she always insisted. So I ignored her. I worked with a corporate lawyer who tried to get me to insert trademarks into quotes cited in case studies, as in:

“We’ve been using Widget(R) software to cure genital warts with great success.”

I explained to her that people don’t actually speak that way, but she always insisted. So I ignored her.

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