Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!MARIST!HARRY
From: HARRY@MARIST.BITNET (A. Harry Williams)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.policy-l
Subject: What's in a name
Message-ID: <POLICY-L%90020216160483@MARIST.BITNET>
Date: 2 Feb 90 21:07:07 GMT
Sender: Discussion about BITNET policies <POLICY-L@BITNIC>
Reply-To: Discussion about BITNET policies <POLICY-L@BITNIC>
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Approved: NETNEWS@PSUVM Gateway
Comments: cc: Jim Conklin <CONKLIN@BITNIC.BITNET>

Jim,
  I'm cc'ing you just to be sure, even though I believe you are
on this list.

  Question:  Is the name Bitnet(or BITNET) a trademark?


  Reason behind the question:  I was reading a trade journal,
and an ad for a commericial mail system talked about connectivity
to BITNET.  Other proprietary systems had their trademarks listed,
but not Bitnet.  I see from previous Board minutes that there
was work under way to get a trademark, but I cannot find a section
that says one was finally gotten.  (Doesn't mean it doesn't exists,
just that I need new glasses.)


  Question #2:  I assume that ownership of this trademark is with
   CREN, Inc now.  (previously with Bitnet, Inc which no longer
   exists as a legal entity.)  Correct?

  Question #3:  Does CREN have any other trademarks?

  Question #4:  Should someone be writing to both the vendor and the
   magazine in question about the lack of trademark notification?
   If so, who?  and should those of us who notice these things
   direct such findings somewhere?

  Question #5:  If Bitnet is a registered trademark, is it possible
   that CREN can dictate what connectivity to it means, ie can CREN
   require that a vendor claiming connectivity must support RFC822?

Thanks,
Harry