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US Company Buys Commodore Brand For $33 Million

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the for-the-old-foggeys dept.

inKubus writes "Tulip Computers International BV -- which has held the rights to Commodore since 1997 -- said Thursday it will sell the once-mighty Commodore computer brand to U.S.-based Yeahronimo Media Ventures Inc. for 24 million euros, or $33 million. A company spokesman said they would "take actions" against possible copyright infringements of the Commodore name in the United States as well as release a new MP3 player and rerelease classic games."

7 of 410 comments (clear)

  1. After all... by nharmon · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is a major problem with people swapping tape cartridges full of programs. Somebody needs to fight these pirates.

  2. Let Me Get This Straight... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Let me get this straight...

    A group of investors actually wants the name associated with a company whose business strategy was best summed up as:

    Ready

    Fire!

    Aim

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. This is one of the reasons... by slakdrgn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...abandonware isn't really abandonware. Now, I'm wondering if they bought the name just so they could make money out of lawsuits. If they do, and it works, I wonder how many other companies will attempt to by rights to long and outdated software just to attempt to raise their bottom line by sueing everyone.

  4. So... by Stick_Fig · · Score: 5, Insightful
    How much you want to bet that this corporation will pretty much do nothing but get pissy towards a bunch of emulator/C64-on-a-chip authors and not actually do anything with the company's legacy?

    I mean, really, it's pretty much been empty promises since about 1992 from the Commodore/Amiga crowd, and the Commodore kicked the bucket.

    --
    ShortFormBlog: Writing a little. Saying a lot.
  5. oh goody by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A company whose primary product seems (from their website) to be a DRM scheme is buying the commodore brand - remember, this is the company that gave out schematics with their computers. Doesn't sound like it makes sense to me. The only people who care about C= are geeks who will know better...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Re:Yeahronimo! by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Yeahronimo Media Ventures. Yes, this sounds like a reputable company. Seriously.

    It was all they could get... names already taken were:

    Geronimo

    Jironimo

    Ghironimo

    Geeronimo

    Goshronimo
    and

    Gollyronimo

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  7. TRADEMARK, not copyright by shimbee · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Names can't be copyrighted...they'd be taking action against uses of the name under TRADEMARK law.

    There are a couple of issues they might run into:

    1) continuous use -- has the trademark been in continuous use over the years? They can't just abandon it and pick it back up

    2) passing off - if no one else is "passing themselves off" as the Commodore computer company, they probably don't have an action.

    overall, if their investment plan is litigation, i think they are in a craptacular situation