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From: craig@com50.c2s.mn.org (Craig Wilson)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: we need a new name
Message-ID: <16081@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 7 Feb 91 19:45:49 GMT
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In article <15801@milton.u.washington.edu> autodesk!tengu!carlt@fernwood.mpk.ca.
us (Carl Tollander) writes:
>Concerning the recent "we need a new name" thread, I have several comments.
>
>1. Autodesk has officially abandoned the trademark registration application
>   for "Cyberspace".
>
>2. Autodesk neither posesses a trademark, nor intends to trademark the word
>   "deck".
>
>3. It is the intention of the Autodesk cyberspace group that simple technical
>   and descriptive terms in common use in the virtual reality field should
>   not be trademarked.  To do so would be a disservice to clear technical 
>   discussion.  We strongly support efforts by the community to dissuade others
>   from trademarking these terms.

It is refreshing to see a company do "the right thing".  As you state in number
3. above, having the vernacular trademarked would surely cause problems in
the development of the various "virtual" technologies.


However, just because AutoDesk is so noble, does not mean that everyone else
will be.  What could be done to keep the lingo in the public domain?  Perhaps
a trusted organization SHOULD trademark the buzzwords.  And then just not be
too conscientious about policing their use?

Is there any other way to "protect" the words?

/craig

else will.