In article <m0ugN8o-000HEEC@JATO.hackvan.com> Stig wrote: : > Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 22:48:23 +0200 (MET DST) : > From: Alex de Joode <usura@replay.com> : > To: cypherpunks@toad.com : > Subject: Re: #E-CASH: PRODUCT OR SERVICE? : > Newsgroups: list.cypherpunks : > : > [..] : > : "Ecash" is a registered trademark of DigiCash. It is registered : > : with the Benelux trademark office and the United States : > : trademark office. I believe that it is considered unwise to use : > : minor variations on trademarked names, but I'm not an : > : intellectual property rights lawyer. : > : > The Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) trademark laws : > don't allow for slight variations, certainly not if there is a : > change that people get confused, it is very very likey that the : > judges of the benelux trademark court will decide that : > ecash and e-cash are just to simular, and will thus confuse the : > public. (art 5 lid 1 BMW) : > : > btw: I'm surprised DigiCash didn't file for a European Trademark, : > but opted for Benelux and US protection. : Perhaps this has already been voiced on the main list (I get a filtered : helping or two of cypherpunks), but *I'm* surprised that such a generic name : as 'Ecash' was granted trademark status anywhere. : It's like giving Microsoft a trademark on the term 'Email'... It's nuts! : Was the term ecash not in use before DigiCash showed up on the scene? Untill januari 1st 1996 you could trademark anything in The Benelux. A bank (ABM*AMRO) has a trademark on 'the bank'; they essentially upgraded a generic name into a trademark, but the recent changes made that impossible since the Benelux Trademark Buro has to check if a name is a generic name and they now have the power to refuse a registration. bEST Regards, -- -AJ-