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From: ehopper@ehpcb.wlk.com (Ed Hopper)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: It's a Trademark not a Copyright
Message-ID: <15202@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 5 Dec 90 01:04:43 GMT
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mailrus!uflorida!rm1!bapat@uunet.uu.net (Subodh Bapat) writes:

> Talking about the Bell logo, is there any truth to the rumor that,
> once long ago, AT&T lost its right to use the Bell logo, as the
> copyright expired and they forgot to renew it? The story I heard was
> that they had to pay a lot of money to get it back from some smart
> entrepreneur who, in the meantime, sneaked in and got the copyright
> for himself.

> Anyone have any facts to substantiate/dispel this rumor?

> [Moderator's Note: I've never heard that story before. Readers?   PAT]

I don't believe this is the case.  The Bell logo is not protected by
copyright but rather by trademark law.  It is held (at the direction
of Judge Green) by Bellcore.

A trademark doesn't, to my knowledge, expire unless it is no longer
used by the holder.  A copyright, on the other hand, will eventually
expire.  Some movies, for example, are in the public domain as their
copyrights have expired.


Ed Hopper

Ed Hopper's BBS 713-997-7575 - Houston - Free Access to AT&T Employees  
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