Intellectual property rights

Public Relations
1

Does anyone have knowledge regarding Intellectual Property rights? If so, we would like to discuss issues related to preserving our right to continue use of certain lables and phrases.

2

I donā€™t, but I know someone who might be able to help if you could be more specific? Just a one time thing with a few questions?

2 Likes
3

We would want to copyright a name so no one can make us stop using it

4

Exactly. This is on behalf of DMS, btw.

5

Normally, protecting a name or idea is for the opposite of this. I.e. to keep someone else from using it.

6

Yeah, but after stuff like this I can understand worrying about IP in this way.

7

Can you elaborate?

8

This provides a reasonable description of the three options available through the U.S. governmentā€¦

Protecting a ā€œlabelā€, ā€œphraseā€, or ā€œnameā€ very likely means obtaining a trademark.

A recent exampleā€¦
https://www.google.com/search?q=procter+and+gamble+lol+wtf

9

Brian,

Thank you for the link, very informative. As a person with no legal training, it appears we may need to consider the Trademark option. However, I could be way off the mark.

At this point, I think it is appropriate for me to turn this back over to the PR Committee, and have them decide how they would like to proceed. PR Committee?

10

I have successfully applied for trademarked items in the past. Trademark is, IMO, your best option.

Reach out to Allen Wan. He should be able to advise you.

EDIT: BTW, if you decide to apply for Dallas Makerspace, you probably want both the word mark and the design mark. Make sure your application includes the phrases,

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use ā€˜DALLASā€™ apart from the mark as shown.

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use ā€˜MAKERSPACEā€™ apart from the mark as shown.

Be advised that someone has filed for exclusive use of the word ā€œMakerspaceā€. Per USPTO, "The pending trademark application was published for opposition, at which time one or more oppositions were filed but they have not yet been decided. "

3 Likes
11

If it is not too late, we should file in opposition.

4 Likes
12

For referenceā€¦
http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:llw2au.2.1

13

Not that my opinion matters, but I agree. We should consult a professional because itā€™s possible that their field of use is different enough from ours that it wonā€™t be an issue for us.

1 Like
14

This is really about the Maker fairs.

We are planning ongoing Maker events. Probably working up to quarterly events.

Maker Magazine staunchly defends, in court, the term ā€œMaker Faireā€ if you use that, you much jump though lots of hoops AND pay them for the honor.

Rube Goldberg events are equally hoop filled and very very expensive.

We are looking for an available term for our Maker art events that we can protect then release into the creative commons domain.

It is almost a contradiction.

I think this is a pretty close description.

2 Likes
15

Here is a better link:

http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87483401&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch

1 Like
16

This needs to be addresses and we need to notify all othere groups using Makerspace of it

my gut says someone wants to charge everyone that uses it