Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Mellotron Group

On Mon, Sep 5, 2011 at 4:14 AM, Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com> wrote:

 

   

Again, no he wouldn't.  A trade mark is any sign capable of being represented graphically which is capable of distinguishing goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings.  Characters or character names in a work of fiction would not apply under such a set of circumstances  - again, they would come under the aegis of copyright, although the definitions are much less clear than you may imagine. 

 

Yes, true but how would he be able to use character names such as "Commander Cody" "Klaatu", "Barada", "Nikto"?

 

Those are all names and words appearing in other sci-fi films long before Star Wars. He stole lots of other idea props from other films too - the Flash Gordon videoscreen, Logan's Run hologram, etc.etc.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

    The pop musical hot beat combo 'Wet Wet Wet' trademarked their name in categories related to printed material and won a case against an author who wrote a book about them which used their name in the title. 

 

What a bunch of class A assholes. I'm sorry, but why anyone would bother to write a book about such non-entities is beyond me. I would think they'd be grateful for any possible publicity they got. To me, their version of Love Is All Around was an overproduced teenage Karaoke session  - them flubbing the timing of the lyrics as they sang the second half. Evidence of horrendously low standards (and not an artistic move)  - and that's being kind. They might be well known and respected in Britain, but over here in Canada they may as well be working a McDonald's drive thru. They're as forgettable as the lint in an elephants' belly button.

 

Under patent legislation, one person holds the patent and can licence others to manufacture the product as it sees fit.  Hence, Markus is making Mellotrons and Streetly are making mellotrons. There is a difference.

 

Yes - but only in the spelling of the name,  not in the functions of the instrument. I guess I should have been more clear. I was referring to the functions of the instrument covered in the patent - which is what ultimately matters.

 

I have to say I've done business with both Streetly and Mellotron over the years and both have been supportive of me in my endeavors.