Re: Hard Hat Linux (fwd)

[ariel@oz.engr.sgi.com (Ariel Faigon)]

[FYI, regarding that request to erase the "Hard Hat"
words from www.linux.sgi.com -- Ariel]

The suggestion by Joe to check http://www.uspto.gov/tmdb/index.html
proved to be pretty helpful, thanks.

A search revealed no less than 22 parties claiming
"Hard Hat" as a registered trade mark in various
variations.  I wrote back to Mr Hilarius (tm of Monty
as Greg suggested :-) telling him that I couldn't verify
his claim in this database (and what I found instead)
and asked for more details.

I also mentioned that AFAIK "Linux" is a trademark
of Linus Torvalds and asked whether he can prove
that he got permission from Linus to use the TM
in his claimed TM: "Hard Hat Linux".

That said, I made it clear that it is not our intention
to infringe on anyone trademarks, and if he could only
answer my questions in a satisfactory way, We'd be
glad to change our web page.

He had several days to respond, but I haven't heard
from him since... Will let you know if he ever does.

--
Peace, Ariel


:On Dec 13,  2:53am, Ariel Faigon wrote:
:> 
:> I'm not sure if I should feel amused or saddened by this
:> email.  I'm not a lawyer, just curious of what would you
:> be doing in reponse.
:> 
:> Note that:
:> 	The facts this email presents are inaccurate:
:> 
:> 	1) We don't have any "product" on www.linux.sgi.com
:> 	   just a free source distribution.
:> 	2) His claim is ignoring the fact that "Linux" is
:> 	   a trademark of Linus Torvalds which may invalidate
:> 	   any claim to its derivatives by another party.
:> 	3) We use "Hard Hat 5.1" as a humorous way to say
:> 	   it is somewhat unstable release of Red Hat 5.1
:> 	   in a casual way in one title.
:> 	4) We never use the term "Hard Hat Linux".
:> 
:> I guess the question is whether our very innocent and casual
:> use of the phrase "Hard Hat" in one web page and without any
:> product connotation constitutes trademark infringement.
:> 
:> 
:> Forwarded message:
:> :From maurice@harddata.com  Sat Dec 12 12:23:42 1998
:> :Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19981212132336.00a0ecb0@209.207.211.2>
:> :X-Sender: mhilariu@209.207.211.2
:> :X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32)
:> :Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 13:23:36 -0700
:> :To: adevries@engsoc.carleton.ca
:> :From: Maurice Hilarius <maurice@harddata.com>
:> :Subject: Hard Hat Linux
:> :Cc: ariel@sgi.com
:> :Mime-Version: 1.0
:> :Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
:> :
:> :Good day Gentlemen.
:> :
:> :One of our customers pointed us to your webpage:
:> :http://www.linux.sgi.com/manhattan/
:> :
:> :We wish to inform you that the names "Hard Hat" and "Hard Hat Linux" are
:> :copyrighted names and registered trademarks of Hard Data Ltd., Of Edmonton,
:> :Alberta, Canada.
:> :
:> :We ask that you please use another name for your project, as we can not
:> :permit this use of the brand name and trademark "Hard Hat Linux".
:> :We suspect that this usage was probably not designed to harm our tradmark,
:> :but we still can not permit it to be used, especially without our express
:> :permission.
:> :
:> :If there are any questions please contact Maurice Hilarius of Hard Data
:> :Ltd. at the address and/or telphone numbers listed in the signature (below).
:> :
:> :Seasons Greetings.
:> :
:> :Best regards,
:> :
:> :  Maurice W. Hilarius                   Telephone: 01-403-414-9319
:> :  Hard Data Ltd.                      **FAX:       01-403-456-1510
:> :  11060 - 166 Avenue                    email:maurice@harddata.com
:> :  Edmonton, AB, Canada  - T5X 1Y3       http://www.harddata.com
:> :  
:> :
:> 
:> 
:> -- 
:> Peace, Ariel
:> 
:>-- End of excerpt from Ariel Faigon
:
:
:
:-- 
:
:------------------------------------------------------------------------
:Joseph Michaud                Silicon Graphics - Applications Consulting
:jmichaud@boston.sgi.com       x483-2255                   (978) 562-4800
:


-- 
Peace, Ariel