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EU Rejects Spam Maker's Trademark Bid

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the how-the-mighty-have-fallen dept.

kog777 writes "The producer of the canned pork product Spam has lost a bid to claim the word as a trademark for unsolicited e-mails. EU trademark officials rejected Hormel Foods Corp.'s appeal, dealing the company another setback in its struggle to prevent software companies from using the word 'spam' in their products, a practice it argued was diluting its brand name. The European Office of Trade Marks and Designs, noting that the vast majority of the hits yielded by a Google search for the word made no reference to the food, said that 'the most evident meaning of the term SPAM for the consumers ... will certainly be unsolicited, usually commercial e-mail, rather than a designation for canned spicy ham.'"

7 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Poor Hormel. It's all the fault of those... by just_another_sean · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...damn vikings.

    --
    Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
  2. Re:Well.... by Sqwubbsy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Presidential elections?

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    $30 Off All Plans: Use code TRIPLESAWBUCK
  3. ordering instructions, please by revery · · Score: 5, Funny

    the most evident meaning of the term SPAM for the consumers ... will certainly be unsolicited, usually commercial e-mail, rather than a designation for canned spicy ham.

    I just want to know how to order breakfast correctly. The last time I asked for Spam spam spam spam spam spam ham eggs spam spam spam bacon and spam, I got 6 advertisements for Viagra and Cialis, 3 pleas for extraditing Nigerian capital, an offer to augment my anatomy and blueberry pancakes served with Raspberry syrup and 2 raw quail eggs.

    Please help!!

    Sincerely,

    A Sad Spam Solicitor

  4. Stupid question of the day by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Ultimately, we are trying to avoid the day when the consuming public asks, 'Why would Hormel Foods name its product after junk e-mail?'"

    These would be the same people that will ask why makers of glass-that-fits-into-buildings-to-allow-people-to- see-into-other-areas chose to name their product after Microsoft's Operating System?

    Get a grip, Hormel.

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    Summation 2
    1. Re:Stupid question of the day by El+Torico · · Score: 4, Funny

      Here's another one, "Mercedes, that's an odd name. Why would anyone name their daughter after a car?"

      --
      In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
  5. Re:Well.... by jimicus · · Score: 5, Funny

    they'd rather eat cat feces, which smells the same but tastes slightly better.

    How do you know?

  6. Re:Well.... by thinsoldier · · Score: 5, Funny

    i've had lots of cats in my life
    I've seen them all eat poo on many occasions
    i've also seen dogs digging in my trash to snack on used kitty litter

    i tried feeding spam to 4 of my cats a few years ago, 3 didnt even bother to taste it
    1 ate it but threw up about an hour later