Seth Graham > writes:

>On 2005-03-11, Busman > wrote:
>> Yup, this is why I no longer buy anything from VW. I think we
>> need to get a letter writing camapign going where we all take
>> pictures of our VWs with the logos blotted out (or maybe changed
>> to Swastikas?) and send them to VW with a note telling them that
>> you'll never buy anything until they end this stupid policy.
>> Assinine.

>It is stupid, but the way I understand it US law actually obligates
>them to do this sort of thing.

>If they don't defend it as a trademark, eventually they will lose the
>right to claim it as theirs. While it would certainly be nice of them
>to drop the name into the "public domain", the bug is one of the most
>recognized symbols of the last century and probably still has some
>real value attached to it.

>From what I gather, trademark law and being nice don't mix very well.

>Not saying this puts VWoA into a better light, heck I'd still be at
>the front of the lynch mob. Just saying that their hand is being
>forced. If there was some way for them to maintain the trademark and
>ignore the classic VW community, I'd lay my money on them turning a
>blind eye to all of us.

"Bug" came from common use and was adopted by VW's marketing
agents from the vernacular. It would have been trademarked way
*after* (if at all) the word was commonly used as as synonymn for
the car. As such, the trademark, if it exists, would be weak.

Lawyers get paid to send out cease and decist letters.
--
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