Comments on: "TM"ing the Blogosphere http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/ Academic commentary on law, business, economics and more Wed, 30 May 2012 11:20:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: TRUTH ON THE MARKET » Group Blog Agreement http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5210 Sat, 21 Jan 2006 18:27:49 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5210 [...] An initial question, of course, is whether a group blog even needs a governing document. We’re not talking about a business deal here. It’s just some law profs spouting off on various topics. Papering the relationship may be contrary to the spirit of the blogosphere (similar to putting “TMâ€? on a blog tagline). [...]

]]> By: Bill Sjostrom http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5209 Wed, 18 Jan 2006 02:11:54 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5209 You can essentially slap TM on anything (whether it gets you anything or not is another question). You’re right on ®. I was only slapping it on words, logos, etc. that were actually registered with the USPTO.

]]> By: gary http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5208 Wed, 18 Jan 2006 01:20:56 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5208 Speaking of trademarks:

I didn’t know that at TM wa something you could just “slap-on” to something. Can you really put an ® on anything at a whim. I was always under the impression that the ® could only be used on actual trademarks approved and registered by the USPTO.

Also, don’t you think the nice lawyers at EBAY might have something to say about your use of their trademark?

Just idle curious wanderings of the mind, and all – trying to help you build content…

Best of luck with your blog.

]]> By: Randy http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5207 Wed, 18 Jan 2006 00:49:21 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5207 I think it already has had its comic effect.

]]> By: Orin Kerr http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5206 Wed, 18 Jan 2006 00:22:47 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5206 I say drop the “TM,” unless it is meant for comic effect.

]]> By: SB http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5205 Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:18:13 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5205 Kate-
That’s an excellent suggestion. Unfortunately, I have already trademarked the term “and More”. Furthermore, I have a business method patent on “publishing verbal commentary and/or analysis over the internets in frequently updated web journal (or Web Log) form using the instrumentalities of interstate commerce”. I will license this valuable intellectual property for $.01 per post.

]]> By: P.D. Hightower http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5204 Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:24:09 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5204 Perhaps I was wrong in this assumption, but I thought “TM” was short-hand for Truth on the Market.

]]> By: Kate Litvak http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5203 Tue, 17 Jan 2006 20:54:44 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5203 Guys, you mean the “TM” thing wasn’t a joke? I thought it was a parody on all those unbearably righteous and self-important blog subtitles.

Actually, the perfect subtitle would be “AcademicTM CommentaryTM onTM LawTM, BusinessTM, EconomicsTM andTM MoreTM�TM

]]> By: Gordon Smith http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5202 Tue, 17 Jan 2006 19:56:15 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5202 Ok, this might be obvious, but here is a little TM101: The trademark symbol does not give you a right in the mark, and omission of the trademark symbol does not cause you to “relinquish” your rights. The sole function of the symbol is to alert people that you have or are claiming a trademark. I think it looks sort of over-the-top on the tagline, but not so much on the header.

]]> By: Geoffrey Manne http://truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5201 Tue, 17 Jan 2006 18:25:36 +0000 http://www.truthonthemarket.com/2006/01/17/tm-in-the-blogosphere/#comment-5201 I’m awlays reluctant to relinquish a property right for no good reason other than because not doing so is “tacky.” But precisely because we are of a piece with the internet’s “spirit of openness,” perhaps what matters most for the success of the endeavor is, in fact, others’ perceptions. So I’m game. The future is uncertain (another argument in favor of keeping the right . . . ) but let’s be honest: The smart money says the expected cost of giving it up approaches zero.

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