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AOL Trademarks nixed

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the losing-the-bad-fight dept.

Robert Wilde writes "A small dose of sanity in the world of trademarks, according to a ZDNN story; the courts have ruled AOL doesn't own "You've got mail," "IM," or "buddy list." " So, I suppose that means my copyright for "E-Commerce Solution" and "E-mail" is probably out as well.

2 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. News flash by MrEd · · Score: 5

    Today it was also discovered that, contrary to popular belief, Microsoft Corp. does not own the trademarks to "General Protection Fault", "Fatal Exception Error" or "Please restart your computer".

    --

    Wah!

  2. Good. by Accipiter · · Score: 4
    That's a good thing, because I have a habit of going out to my mailbox (the one on my lawn), coming back to the house, and saying "Mom, You've got Mail." (Although, I avoid using the goofy voice.)

    Now I don't have to add: "the phrase 'You've got Mail' is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc." That kinda annoyed the family.

    What about the people who don't know how to use proper punctuation? The ones who say "Im going to the mall." Do they have to pay AOL for the use of the term "IM"?

    /SARCASM

    Although this brings up an interesting point....Did AOL own that patent at any time BEFORE this ruling? There was that movie "You've got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Did they have to pay AOL royalties for that title? Aren't they entitled to get those royalties back?

    -- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?

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    -- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?
    (If you can't figure out how to E-Mail me, Don't. :P)