In article <ant051101bc8p...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>, Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <ocA*oG...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, Chris Joseph > <URL:mailto:chr...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote: > > Adam <n...@snowstone.org.uk> wrote:
> > >Um, what's the big deal? If some half-bit (geddit?) start-up want's to try > > >and play on an old trademark, fair play to them for imagination. (I can't
> > Except that the trademark belongs to someone else (currently Castle, I > > believe), > I think Castle only had a licence to use the name, I suspect the ownership > lies with MSDW Holdings who bought out Acorn Computers Ltd. > I doubt MSDW will know about the infringment or be bothered to pursue the > new company if they did.
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
On Thu, 2006-05-04 at 22:21 +0100, druck wrote: > On 4 May 2006 Adam <n...@snowstone.org.uk> wrote: > > Sheesh! Get over it. Acorn are long dead and buried. The sooner the name is > > forgotten, the better, as far as I'm concerned.
> So why are you supporting fraudulent traders attempting to profit from it?
I reckon it's Microdigital trying to make a comeback...
<ducks>
TTFN
Paul -- "Logic, my dear Zoe, is merely the ability to be wrong with authority" - Dr Who
----8<---- Am I breaking the law by using "TM" on my trade mark? No, as this does not indicate that your trade mark is actually registered, only that it is being used in a trade mark sense. You would only be breaking the law (Section 95 of the Trade Marks Act 1994) if you used the registered symbol ® or the abbreviation "RTM". ----8<----
Whether Acorn Computers Ltd is breaking the law in this context remains unclear, though. It depends on a number of things that none of us know and, in the best tradition of usenet, can only speculate and jump to conclusions about.
In article <gemini.iyszio004djyz01qc.s...@softrock.co.uk>, VinceH <s...@softrock.co.uk> wrote:
> "Acorn" (in this context) is owned by E14.
Acorn Computers Ltd (2006 version) say they will allow their resellers to promote themselves as "Acorn Authorised". So later this year you could reasonably ask any of the "Acorn Authorised" resellers to supply you with an Iyonix, A9, Virtual RiscPC or copy of Select 4 - and be rightfully aggrieved if they try to sell you a Windows laptop instead.
On reflection I can think of one or two companies who might already consider themselves to be "Acorn Authorised" without waiting for the imprimatur of Acorn Computers Ltd (2006).
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Stefan Wuerthner web http://wuerthner.dyndns.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
On 5 May 2006 Paul Vigay <usenet-nos...@vigay.com> wrote:
> In article <4e21cc30ecda...@orpheusmail.co.uk>, > Dave Stratford <da...@orpheusmail.co.uk> wrote: >> Interesting. Assuming the name is actually correct then this makes >> interesting reading as well :
> I've just spoken to Companies House, reporting them for fraudulently trying > to pass themselves off as someone else and had a very informative > conversation with the person on the phone. They're going to launch an > investigation
Well done Paul.
> I also phoned Anthony Hull at the Computer Trade Show and explained the > situation to him, so he's going to discuss the matter with his superiors > and decide what action to take (after all, they might not want 1000 angry > Acorn users turning up to ask awkward questions.....;-))
And well done again.
Perhaps you might also want to drop a line to Chris and Herman to see what they think of the situation. Acorn computers selling Windows notebooks - they would be spinning in their graves if they weren't still alive.
> In article <gemini.iyszio004djyz01qc.s...@softrock.co.uk>, > VinceH <s...@softrock.co.uk> wrote: > > "Acorn" (in this context) is owned by E14.
(Which was linked to the relevant page on the UK Patent office website)
As an afterthought[1], I should clarify that refers to printed matter and I'm taking the view that a web page falls under that, but others might disagree. It's possible that whoever put the page up at http://www.acorncomputer.co.uk also takes that view, hence the use of the ® - but it's also possible that they've registered the word as a trademark elsewhere, or simply that they've seen (old) Acorn's printed matter, including that symbol, and therefore decided to use it themselves on that page. There are probably other possibilities as well.
> Acorn Computers Ltd (2006 version) say they will allow their > resellers to promote themselves as "Acorn Authorised". So later > this year you could reasonably ask any of the "Acorn Authorised" > resellers to supply you with an Iyonix, A9, Virtual RiscPC or > copy of Select 4 - and be rightfully aggrieved if they try to > sell you a Windows laptop instead.
I'm trying to work out how that follows from anything in the post to which you replied - and more to the point to the bit you actually quoted - other than being a comment on this new Acorn.
> On 5 May 2006 Paul Vigay <usenet-nos...@vigay.com> wrote: >> In article <4e21cc30ecda...@orpheusmail.co.uk>, >> Dave Stratford <da...@orpheusmail.co.uk> wrote: >>> Interesting. Assuming the name is actually correct then this makes >>> interesting reading as well :
>> I've just spoken to Companies House, reporting them for fraudulently trying >> to pass themselves off as someone else and had a very informative >> conversation with the person on the phone. They're going to launch an >> investigation
> Well done Paul.
>> I also phoned Anthony Hull at the Computer Trade Show and explained the >> situation to him, so he's going to discuss the matter with his superiors >> and decide what action to take (after all, they might not want 1000 angry >> Acorn users turning up to ask awkward questions.....;-))
> And well done again.
> Perhaps you might also want to drop a line to Chris and Herman to see what > they think of the situation. Acorn computers selling Windows notebooks - they > would be spinning in their graves if they weren't still alive.
> ---druck
Interesting marketing opportunity for R-Comp and STD: sell 'Acorn' laptops with VirtualAcorn installed :-o
Makes you wonder if the RO hardware companies didn't miss a trick by not keeping the Acorn branding though.
> On 5 May 2006, John Cartmell wrote: > > In article <gemini.iyszio004djyz01qc.s...@softrock.co.uk>, > > VinceH <s...@softrock.co.uk> wrote: > > > "Acorn" (in this context) is owned by E14. > (Which was linked to the relevant page on the UK Patent office > website) > As an afterthought[1], I should clarify that refers to printed > matter and I'm taking the view that a web page falls under that, > but others might disagree. It's possible that whoever put the page > up at http://www.acorncomputer.co.uk also takes that view, hence > the use of the ® - but it's also possible that they've registered > the word as a trademark elsewhere, or simply that they've seen > (old) Acorn's printed matter, including that symbol, and therefore > decided to use it themselves on that page. There are probably > other possibilities as well. > > Acorn Computers Ltd (2006 version) say they will allow their > > resellers to promote themselves as "Acorn Authorised". So later > > this year you could reasonably ask any of the "Acorn Authorised" > > resellers to supply you with an Iyonix, A9, Virtual RiscPC or > > copy of Select 4 - and be rightfully aggrieved if they try to > > sell you a Windows laptop instead. > I'm trying to work out how that follows from anything in the post > to which you replied - and more to the point to the bit you > actually quoted - other than being a comment on this new Acorn.
I was illustrating the mind-boggling confusion possible. I'd just read the PR statement from the new company where they refer to the "Acorn and Acorn logo being registered trademarks of Acorn Computers Ltd" prompting the questions: which Acorn? which Acorn logo? which Acorn Computers Ltd?
and the possibility of seeing their statement alongside the identical statement (but with a quite different meaning) on a printed document from the 1980s.
"Acorn" is owned by Element 14? Which Acorn?
Muddy waters... :-(
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
In article <ee85ca224e.acl...@tiscali.co.uk>, george <george.greenfi...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
> Makes you wonder if the RO hardware companies didn't miss a trick by > not keeping the Acorn branding though.
They would have been called fraudsters. Possibly by some of the same people saying the current owners of ACL are OK guys (whoever they are). ;-(
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
In article <4e22e3d632usenet-nos...@vigay.com>, Paul Vigay <usenet-nos...@vigay.com> wrote:
> As an additional follow up (which I shall be escalating on Monday), it > looks like the 'new' Acorn Computers Ltd are breaking section 95 of the > Trade Marks Act 1994 because as far as my investigations go, they have not > formally registered "Acorn" as a trademark, yet they are using the (R) > symbol to denote a registered trademark on their website. I shall be > contacting the patent office to discuss this on Monday.
You might want their Press Release NB I would *strongly* advise anyone making use of this information to make any form of complaint to make sure that a complaint is appropriate and is not oversold. Doing so damages your argument and that of others. I have no reason to say that the company has taken any illegal action no matter how affronted some people might be. Apologies for the character errors that occurred during translation from the Word original:
Acorn Computers re-launches with new notebook range at Computer Trade Show 2006, NEC, Birmingham.
28 April 2006, Nottingham, England This years’ Computer Trade Show at NEC Birmingham on 10th & 11th May sees the return of Acorn Computers – marking the beginning of a new era in British computing and re-introducing a popular brand to the IT community.
Still synonymous with personal computers in the minds of the UK public, the return of the iconic brand at the show will give the IT trade and media an exclusive preview of the company's new product line. Exhibitors and visitors to the show will be able to see Acorn's updated brand identity and meet members of the Channel Marketing and Operations teams.
The new range at launch consists of four models – 12.1” Solo Note, 14.1” Solo Book, 15.4” Desk Note and 17” Desk Book. All models have WXGA Widescreens with Acorn Vybrio Technology; a glass like finish for vibrancy and brightness. The new Acorn range runs Microsoft Windows XP and comes with Zone Alarm from Zone Labs as well as Sun's Star Office.
The range has been specifically designed to cater for users across the whole UK market, which Acorn is grouping as General Public Audience, Education & Academia, SME & SoHo business and Large Enterprise & Public Sector. In keeping with the Computer Trade Show focus, Acorn will be actively recruiting resellers to carry the range in these markets. Resellers chosen to work with Acorn will be able to promote themselves as "Acorn Authorised” and benefit from the high public attraction that is expected over the coming months.
Synonymous within the education audience in the 1980s and 1990s, Acorn's new product range will appeal to those loyal to the brand as well as attract new users. The return of Acorn Computers will not doubt strike a chord with a generation who grew up learning on an Acorn Computer; rekindling fond memories of their first experiences with technology, whilst providing new high specification notebooks and competitive pricing to continue this evolution.
The Acorn Computers web site is due to launch imminently at http://www.acorncomputer.co.uk where more information can be found. A further programme of trade and consumer marketing is currently in planning and production. More details of the brand and product range will be released following the show.
Notes to the editor: Acorn Computers would like to invite journalists, editors and researchers to contact PR Agency Persona Creative to arrange product reviews, interviews and other editorial content. Media releases will also be distributed regularly through this office. About Acorn Computers As one of the UK’s most recognisable and fondly remembered IT brands, Acorn Computers Limited has re-launched in 2006 as a Notebook PC vendor, supplying to home users, academic establishments, and businesses of all sizes. Working closely with industry leaders Intel, AMD, Nvidia, ATI Technologies and Microsoft, Acorn notebooks are once again available as high specification and innovative products. Acorn Computers are available through a growing network of distributors and resellers. See http://www.acorncomputer.co.uk for more information.
Acorn and the Acorn logo are registered trademarks of Acorn Computers Limited. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Other trademarks, registered trademarks and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the properties of their respective owners.
For all media enquiries contact publicists Persona Creative in the first instance or Acorn Computers for further information.
Vivienne Pearsons
Marketing & PR Manager Persona Creative Limited 5 King Edward Court King Edward Street Nottingham NG1 1EW
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
In article <gemini.iyv6ck00cwex201b4....@magray.freeserve.co.uk>, Ray Dawson <r...@magray.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> John Cartmell <j...@cartmell.demon.co.uk> wrote: > > Apologies for the character errors that occurred during translation from > > the Word original:
> But I thought that RISC OS is perfectly capable of reading and writing > Word and other files.
It is. But the copy I got was a touch mangled. For you I could have spent time and demangled it - but then I decided it wasn't worth it.
-- John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
During the course of this discussion, Paul Vigay <usenet-nos...@vigay.com>, in message <4e2237d50busenet-nos...@vigay.com> wrote:
> Indeed. I would urge people to complain both to the Computer Trade Show as > well as Companies House - details in my previous posting.
Wouldn't it be prudent to wait a few days until 10th May, to find out exactly what these people's plans are. Who know, they might be planning on licensing one of the current flavours of RISC OS for some of their laptops, either from Castle or ROL, and if they get a heap of grief from a bunch of RISC OS anoraks, decide not to bother. I am and will remain an eternal optimist.
-- "Like shooting flies with a laser cannon, the aims a bit tricky, but it certainly deals with the flies." - Lord Miles Vorkosigan. From "Komarr" by Lois McMaster Bujold To read my Web Log visit http://www.gardd-lelog.org.uk
On 7 May 2006 John Campbell Rees <j...@gardd-lelog.org.uk> wrote:
> During the course of this discussion, Paul Vigay > <usenet-nos...@vigay.com>, > in message <4e2237d50busenet-nos...@vigay.com> wrote:
>> Indeed. I would urge people to complain both to the Computer Trade Show as >> well as Companies House - details in my previous posting.
> Wouldn't it be prudent to wait a few days until 10th May, to find out > exactly what these people's plans are. Who know, they might be planning > on licensing one of the current flavours of RISC OS for some of their > laptops, either from Castle or ROL, and if they get a heap of grief from a > bunch of RISC OS anoraks, decide not to bother. I am and will remain an > eternal optimist.
Its quite obvious what they are doing; perpetrating a fraud by passing themselves off as the old Acorn, as they have done in every press release. It would be better to stop them before they can profit from this deception, rather indulging in head in the clouds wishful thinking that they have anything any interest current RISC OS market.
In article <4e233623dbd...@davenoise.co.uk>, d...@davenoise.co.uk says...
> In article <gemini.iyv6ck00cwex201b4....@magray.freeserve.co.uk>, > Ray Dawson <r...@magray.freeserve.co.uk> wrote: > > > Apologies for the character errors that occurred during translation > > > from the Word original:
> > But I thought that RISC OS is perfectly capable of reading and writing > > Word and other files.
> And is any MS program capable of reading Impression files?
There are a quite number of editors that manage to struggle along.
> Surely it must, since it's the best system in the world according to you?
Hardly the best but they have an uncanny knack of being able to process audio/video at a reasonable rate. :-p
> In article <gemini.iyv6ck00cwex201b4....@magray.freeserve.co.uk>, > Ray Dawson <r...@magray.freeserve.co.uk> wrote: > > > Apologies for the character errors that occurred during translation > > > from the Word original:
> > But I thought that RISC OS is perfectly capable of reading and writing > > Word and other files.
> And is any MS program capable of reading Impression files?
> Surely it must, since it's the best system in the world according to > you?
I long since stopped using Impression in favour of Ovation Pro.
However, good as Ovation Pro is - and there is a Windows version - it isn't compatible with the files which I have to deal with on a daily basis to earn my bread and butter. Otherwise, I would use OP for Windows.
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