[pLog-general] Re: news from the amazon.com issue

[Oscar Renalias]

It's indeed nice because it sounded like Amazon wanted to settle this
in a friendly way. They said they'll provide us with the money needed
to get the new domains, transfer the old ones, etc, as well as even
purchase gifts so that we can organize a competition with a prize
amongst our users to choose a new name. Not to mention that we could
also use this as free publicity.

However, I just sent an email to the EFF (Electronic Frontiers
Foundation) because I'd like to know the legal background on this. I
am an EU citizen and I am not sure if US trademarks can affect me
(us?) and if Amazon has any legal grounds to do what they're doing.
It's been a lot of hard work to become recognized by the word "plog"
and throwing everything down the drain... doesn't sound too good.

Let's see what Amazon says about their proposal and what the EFF has
to say about it. And then we'll decide.

I will keep you all posted.

Oscar

On Apr 8, 2005 12:37 AM, Michael Erdmann <Michael_Erdmann at t-online.de> wrote:
> Hi Oscar,
> 
> shit happens... Remember, I suspected this fact last year.
> But I think it is obliging from amazon that they don't set
> their lawyers on us at first and that they would cover our
> expenses and furthermore promote the project.
> If they really want to help promoting the project, it could
> be a great chance for us. I'm your opinion - we should avoid
> a legal battle and wait for their proposal.
> In the meantime we should think at first about a new and cool
> name for pLog and promote this name together with version 1.0.
> At second we should think about the things we want to get from
> amazon to be prepared for negotiations if we don't like their
> proposal(our counterproposal).
> 
> Michael
> 
> > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> > Von: Oscar Renalias [mailto:phunkphorce at gmail.com]
> > Gesendet: Donnerstag, 7. April 2005 22:44
> > An: plog-svn at devel.plogworld.net; Michael_Erdmann at t-online.de
> > Betreff: news from the amazon.com issue
> >
> >
> > Hi there,
> >
> > spoke this evening (GMT+3) to Jeff Barr from Amazon.com and clearly
> > the issue is that Amazon wants the "plog" name back. Their trademark
> > was registered in Jan 2003, about half a year earlier than we started
> > the project in sf.net.
> >
> > He said that amazon.com wants to deal with this in a nice and easy
> > way. He said amazon.com will cover any expenses that this will/could
> > generate (getting new domains, transferring the current ones, etc),
> > and will even help promoting the project. I am still waiting for their
> > proposal but there'll be a "transition period" of like 6 months so
> > that users have enough time to get used to this.
> >
> > It's kind of a bummer after all this time but I don't think that there
> > is much we can do... and I haven't got the time to engage in any legal
> > battle, either. I will still check with the EFF and see whether they
> > have any further advice, wait for Amazon's proposal and then think
> > about it.
> >
> > Feel free to comment.
> >
> > Oscar
> >
> 
>