I am going to try to refrain from name-calling here. I can afford to do this since I am going to make actual, LEGALLY INSPIRED points. I have an intense interest in intellectual property, which means I usually get my information on laws, my rights, and the Constitution from places other than Slashdot.
Please take a look at the Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1995. It provides for protection of high-profile trademarks even when the companies in question are in different fields. One of the specific conditions for such protection is "tarnishment." Many Americans would agree that an adult video company using a popular trademark to draw attention to themselves would be an example of tarnishment, in the words of BitLaw: "...the defendant's use is unsavory or unwholesome..." Take a look at the trademark dilution section at BitLaw. Since you seem to be quite worried about people not being able to use their own name, please notice that non-commercial use of a trademark does not constitute trademark dilution.
Regardless, even without such trademark dilution laws, the presence of huge Japanese conglomerates that produce everything from baby food to bulldozers would be very helpful to Nissan's case. In Japan, there sometimes seems to be almost no rhyme and reason to what companies produce. An American will look at two very different products and say there is no connection. A Japanese fellow may spot these two products and identify them as both products of Japan Company X (a fictitious conglomerate, of course). First, I know of no other products than cars and boat motors that Nissan has made. However, Nissan could argue that in the Japanese market, an unfair association between a computer company with a tacky looking web page and their products caused their trademark to be violated because the Japanese people had reason to expect they were affiliated at the conglomerate level. In this international age, if you can achieve a ruling in court in one country, there are steps you could take to make the defendant's life very unpleasant.
Finally, the only part of your message that is really relevant is this line, which I now quote back to you: "If you're going to be a mouthy fuckwit, at least do it with something you aren't wrong about."
You are missing the point. The whole issue is commercial use of a trademark, not use of someone's own name. Thank you for your ridiculously stupid feedback.
Actually, Nissan has a responsibility to fight for its trademark. Sure, they look like the bad guy because they took on some poor Jewish computer company owner. The fact is, and the court ruled, that Mr. Nissan was using the trademarked name to draw attention to his business site. That is why his site is now only allowed to be used for non-commercial purposes. It's really not a matter of who had the domain first. It's a matter of who made Nissan an international trademark. It would not have been right to take away Mr. Nissan's domain--he registered it first and had a legitimate claim to its use based on his name--in a manner that did not violate the Nissan automotive company's trademark. This case ended in a compromise of sorts because Nissan automotive did not end up with possession of the domain, but they did ensure that their trademark and brand name was not being diluted through name confusion.
I realize that this is not a simple enough concept for many Slashdot readers who are so obsessed with their rights and freedoms that they fail to realize corporations and business entities have rights too. Here's an illustration to bring it into the realm of computers/Linux that everyone always wants to talk about. Let's say that Linux.com was registered by a startup company, Linux Adult Video Productions, in 1994 (after Linux was beginning to be well-spread and used in a trademarked sense, but before someone in the community registered the domain name. This company would be abusing a pre-existing trademark to bring business from misguided web surfers. Of course, they would probably bring in lots of business on this domain since Slashdot readers seem to be obsessed with "pr0n". However, Linus Torvalds would have a right to oppose this trademark dilution and request a cease and desist order for commercial operation on this domain. Of course, since we all want Linux to be successful and we would be offended by this company's action, we would rally around Linus and talk about how our rights as a community had been violated. Guess what? It's the same deal. Many Slashdot users are so obsessed with hating government/parents/corporations/etc. that they can not see an issue like this objectively.
Also, Nissan makes very reliable cars, something the American auto industry has been only marginally successful at doing thus far. So, it makes little sense to say they suck because of a court case. To me, an example of an automotive company sucking would be the Ford Pinto. Nuff said.
September 2001 - WTC and Pentagon bombings.
August 1998 - US Embassy Bombings.
April 1995 - Oklahoma City Bombing (US Citizen).
February 1993 - First World Trade Center Bombing.
1. INS failed us;
2. Outside of the country, CIA can spy without Patriot Act;
3. Trained by the U.S. Army, known mental case;
4. We allowed Yousef to enter the U.S. on an IRAQI passport
The problem here is NOT the lack of spying power. It's simply an inefficient bureaucracy that's not doing its job.
Assuming I could find an environmentally friendly way to dispose of the printer, why wouldn't I just throw it away and buy a new one?? I have seen the Lexmark printers with cartridges for within $1 of their cartridge prices. To me, it's a no-brainer.
Just curious, why were you in high school and college for 19 years? Also, how have you used your printer more years than it is old? Thank you in advance for your insightful answers.
Here's a suggestion for anyone who might be concerned with the legality of this approach. Get the malfunctioning Windows machine up into safe mode. Run 'regedit' and do a find on 'productid' or 'productkey' (I believe MS has used different ones of these at different times). When you find the long number that looks the MS serial number, write it down. Then you can wipe the drive or whatever else you need to do and install from your own media with the computer owner's legitimate serial number. Or, if you're not worried about the legal ramifications, do whatever it is you do now.
The only problem with this is that the 2nd Amendment declares you have the right to own, keep, and bear arms, theoretically to provide a deterrent against a domestic or foreign tyrant. The 2nd Amendment never explicitly gives you the right to fire these arms, however. I think this may be because the framers of the Constitution recognized that if someone was going to go and use their weapons against the government or innocent citizens, they should know they would be held responsible in some manner for their actions. As a somewhat naive pre-law student, my interpretation is that the 2nd Amendment protects possession of weapons for the purpose of deterrence. If you are happy having a whole bunch of rockets you can't fire, perhaps you could justify them with your Constitutional firearms rights. This is not a flame bait, just my attempt at interpreting the Constitution.
And quite frankly, knowing the language du jour is incredibly valuable, and picking up Java, or any other language, in your "spare time" in college is so preposterous that it only serves to make you look foolish for even suggesting it.
It's too bad you feel that way. As a first year computer science / information systems student, I attended classes regularly, worked an average of 12 hours a week, pulled a 3.8+ GPA, picked up PHP and ColdFusion, dabbled in Java Server Pages. I also had friends, a long-term (hot) girlfriend, and played intramural sports. To be honest, you'll make time for what you value. If you want to get stoned or drunk off your ass every night like a lot of college kids, you're going to be a dumbass. Pick one night of the week or something. You'll miss the brain cells when they're gone. If that, or time management, isn't your problem, you should really find a new career. Convenience store cashier? Burger flipper? Forgive me if that's pointed, but IT is a field that takes commitment to keep up with the latest developments. The salaries are fairly high, but so are the hours.
Why is it that computer professionals and nerds don't think it's important to spell correctly? It really is quite important. Maybe that's why quite a bit of open source software sucks. Using similar named variables and function names and then misspelling them is a good way to mess up a project. I know you think this is offtopic, but it's not. And it's a no hassle install anyway.
>He comes into power and cuts income taxes. Mean while the economy of B.C. is tickering on recession.
Most economists are of the opinion that a tax cut will increase consumption spending (a factor in gross domestic product) and stimulate the economy. What's your point?
Considering 80% of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the United States, that's not really all that far. I learned that in a geography class a few years back, but my guess would be the trend has continued, if not gone up.
AC, You're seriously misguided. I take that back. You're an imbecile. It's hard to compare mass murderers with mass murderers. Hitler and Stalin both fit the description. It is quite unfortunate that we took the side of Russia in WWII. We should have let Hitler and Stalin destroy each other.
Slashdot is all about being off topic. Anyway, I wasn't saying that Mormons aren't Christians. That's a different issue, which I will not try to tackle. I was just saying that several Mormons I have met told me point blank that they were NOT Christians, that they were Mormons.
Well, how hard would it be to make a waterproof interior that ran a cycle like a washing machine between groups of passengers? Complete with blow dry, of course. No, I'm not being sarcastic. Think about it:)
The important thing to remember is that you CAN be sued for anything. Whether or not it will hold water depends on the circumstances. We're a litigation-happy society now. Hot coffee anyone?
Download a more recent build, moron. Maybe even compile from source. Mozilla is the highest quality browser I have used on Linux. It's not up to Internet Explorer standards yet, but that will come.
Slashdot Mirror
Please take a look at the Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1995. It provides for protection of high-profile trademarks even when the companies in question are in different fields. One of the specific conditions for such protection is "tarnishment." Many Americans would agree that an adult video company using a popular trademark to draw attention to themselves would be an example of tarnishment, in the words of BitLaw: "...the defendant's use is unsavory or unwholesome..." Take a look at the trademark dilution section at BitLaw. Since you seem to be quite worried about people not being able to use their own name, please notice that non-commercial use of a trademark does not constitute trademark dilution.
Regardless, even without such trademark dilution laws, the presence of huge Japanese conglomerates that produce everything from baby food to bulldozers would be very helpful to Nissan's case. In Japan, there sometimes seems to be almost no rhyme and reason to what companies produce. An American will look at two very different products and say there is no connection. A Japanese fellow may spot these two products and identify them as both products of Japan Company X (a fictitious conglomerate, of course). First, I know of no other products than cars and boat motors that Nissan has made. However, Nissan could argue that in the Japanese market, an unfair association between a computer company with a tacky looking web page and their products caused their trademark to be violated because the Japanese people had reason to expect they were affiliated at the conglomerate level. In this international age, if you can achieve a ruling in court in one country, there are steps you could take to make the defendant's life very unpleasant.
Finally, the only part of your message that is really relevant is this line, which I now quote back to you: "If you're going to be a mouthy fuckwit, at least do it with something you aren't wrong about."
You are missing the point. The whole issue is commercial use of a trademark, not use of someone's own name. Thank you for your ridiculously stupid feedback.
I realize that this is not a simple enough concept for many Slashdot readers who are so obsessed with their rights and freedoms that they fail to realize corporations and business entities have rights too. Here's an illustration to bring it into the realm of computers/Linux that everyone always wants to talk about. Let's say that Linux.com was registered by a startup company, Linux Adult Video Productions, in 1994 (after Linux was beginning to be well-spread and used in a trademarked sense, but before someone in the community registered the domain name. This company would be abusing a pre-existing trademark to bring business from misguided web surfers. Of course, they would probably bring in lots of business on this domain since Slashdot readers seem to be obsessed with "pr0n". However, Linus Torvalds would have a right to oppose this trademark dilution and request a cease and desist order for commercial operation on this domain. Of course, since we all want Linux to be successful and we would be offended by this company's action, we would rally around Linus and talk about how our rights as a community had been violated. Guess what? It's the same deal. Many Slashdot users are so obsessed with hating government/parents/corporations/etc. that they can not see an issue like this objectively.
Also, Nissan makes very reliable cars, something the American auto industry has been only marginally successful at doing thus far. So, it makes little sense to say they suck because of a court case. To me, an example of an automotive company sucking would be the Ford Pinto. Nuff said.
1. INS failed us; 2. Outside of the country, CIA can spy without Patriot Act; 3. Trained by the U.S. Army, known mental case; 4. We allowed Yousef to enter the U.S. on an IRAQI passport
The problem here is NOT the lack of spying power. It's simply an inefficient bureaucracy that's not doing its job.
Assuming I could find an environmentally friendly way to dispose of the printer, why wouldn't I just throw it away and buy a new one?? I have seen the Lexmark printers with cartridges for within $1 of their cartridge prices. To me, it's a no-brainer.
Just curious, why were you in high school and college for 19 years? Also, how have you used your printer more years than it is old? Thank you in advance for your insightful answers.
An American myself, I can say with honesty my incoming SMS messages cost 5 cents each.
Here's a suggestion for anyone who might be concerned with the legality of this approach. Get the malfunctioning Windows machine up into safe mode. Run 'regedit' and do a find on 'productid' or 'productkey' (I believe MS has used different ones of these at different times). When you find the long number that looks the MS serial number, write it down. Then you can wipe the drive or whatever else you need to do and install from your own media with the computer owner's legitimate serial number. Or, if you're not worried about the legal ramifications, do whatever it is you do now.
That's actually the first thing I thought of too, after seeing that product referred to on Slashdot some months ago.
TROLL!
The only problem with this is that the 2nd Amendment declares you have the right to own, keep, and bear arms, theoretically to provide a deterrent against a domestic or foreign tyrant. The 2nd Amendment never explicitly gives you the right to fire these arms, however. I think this may be because the framers of the Constitution recognized that if someone was going to go and use their weapons against the government or innocent citizens, they should know they would be held responsible in some manner for their actions. As a somewhat naive pre-law student, my interpretation is that the 2nd Amendment protects possession of weapons for the purpose of deterrence. If you are happy having a whole bunch of rockets you can't fire, perhaps you could justify them with your Constitutional firearms rights. This is not a flame bait, just my attempt at interpreting the Constitution.
It's too bad you feel that way. As a first year computer science / information systems student, I attended classes regularly, worked an average of 12 hours a week, pulled a 3.8+ GPA, picked up PHP and ColdFusion, dabbled in Java Server Pages. I also had friends, a long-term (hot) girlfriend, and played intramural sports. To be honest, you'll make time for what you value. If you want to get stoned or drunk off your ass every night like a lot of college kids, you're going to be a dumbass. Pick one night of the week or something. You'll miss the brain cells when they're gone. If that, or time management, isn't your problem, you should really find a new career. Convenience store cashier? Burger flipper? Forgive me if that's pointed, but IT is a field that takes commitment to keep up with the latest developments. The salaries are fairly high, but so are the hours.
I thought the sun revolved around the earth. j/k
Why is it that computer professionals and nerds don't think it's important to spell correctly? It really is quite important. Maybe that's why quite a bit of open source software sucks. Using similar named variables and function names and then misspelling them is a good way to mess up a project. I know you think this is offtopic, but it's not. And it's a no hassle install anyway.
Yeah, I hate those no hastle installs. Proofread, moron.
>He comes into power and cuts income taxes. Mean while the economy of B.C. is tickering on recession. Most economists are of the opinion that a tax cut will increase consumption spending (a factor in gross domestic product) and stimulate the economy. What's your point?
Considering 80% of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the United States, that's not really all that far. I learned that in a geography class a few years back, but my guess would be the trend has continued, if not gone up.
I concur with that assessment.
AC, You're seriously misguided. I take that back. You're an imbecile. It's hard to compare mass murderers with mass murderers. Hitler and Stalin both fit the description. It is quite unfortunate that we took the side of Russia in WWII. We should have let Hitler and Stalin destroy each other.
Slashdot is all about being off topic. Anyway, I wasn't saying that Mormons aren't Christians. That's a different issue, which I will not try to tackle. I was just saying that several Mormons I have met told me point blank that they were NOT Christians, that they were Mormons.
Well, how hard would it be to make a waterproof interior that ran a cycle like a washing machine between groups of passengers? Complete with blow dry, of course. No, I'm not being sarcastic. Think about it :)
From my understandings, Mormons don't even claim to be Christians. They are supposedly far superior to Christians as they have all the answers.
The important thing to remember is that you CAN be sued for anything. Whether or not it will hold water depends on the circumstances. We're a litigation-happy society now. Hot coffee anyone?
Download a more recent build, moron. Maybe even compile from source. Mozilla is the highest quality browser I have used on Linux. It's not up to Internet Explorer standards yet, but that will come.
It can not be connected to an outside network. That's the point. Read the question.