Michael Snow wrote:
6) AOB
Jimbo will contact a German lawyer regarding the registration of the
Wikimedia trademark in Germany, which someone else is currently
attempting to register.
This is the first I've heard about this attempt. If it's not too much
trouble, I would be interested to get some more information about it
(off-list is fine). I might also be able to help with the
communications if necessary, since I speak German, though I have no
particular training in German law.
First, it's about Wikipedia, not Wikimedia.
Date of application is 08.03.2004, so we missed already the 3 month
period where we can object.
Raw data in German is attached, short abstract:
application is filed as a word mark by Joerg Nagel, Legan promotion
(
http://www.legan.de), for three classes:
22, 25, 28: (long list abbreviated: f.e. textiles, toys, games, tents,
sports wear, christmas decorations)
greetings,
elian
UG01 - Kurzer Überblick Markentext: WIKIPEDIA Markenform: Wortmarke
Inhaber: Nagel, Jörg, Reutlingen Leitklasse: 22 Klassen: 22; 25; 28
Letzter Verfahrensstand: Empfangsbescheinigung mit
Veroeffentl.d.Anmeldung
UG10 - Allgemeine Angaben Markentext: WIKIPEDIA Markenform: Wortmarke
Letzter Verfahrensstand: Empfangsbescheinigung mit
Veroeffentl.d.Anmeldung
UG15 - Inhaber, Vertreter Name und Wohnort/Sitz des Anmelders/Inhabers
der Marke: Nagel, Jörg, Reutlingen Zustellungsanschrift: Legan
promotion GmbH & Co. KG Auchtertstr.4 72770 Reutlingen
http://www.legan.de/legan_d.html
UG20 - Waren/Dienstleistungen (gegenwärtiger Stand) Leitklasse: 22
Klassen: 22; 25; 28 Erfassung / Umklassifizierung gemäß Nizzaer
Klassifikation (NCL 8) Datum der Erfassung / Umklassifizierung:
18.03.2004
UG30 - Verfahren (Chronologie) Anmeldetag: 08.03.2004
* Klasse 22: Seile, Bindfaden, Netze, Zelte, Planen, Segel, Säcke
(soweit sie nicht in anderen Klassen enthalten sind);
Polsterfüllstoffe (außer aus Kautschuk oder Kunststoffen); rohe
Gespinstfasern
* Klasse 25: Bekleidungsstücke, Schuhwaren, Kopfbedeckungen
* Klasse 28: Spiele, Spielzeug; Turn- und Sportartikel, soweit sie
nicht in anderen Klassen enthalten sind; Christbaumschmuck.
Vielen Dank für die Information, elian.
Well, nothing in the classes of goods covered by this trademark
application should keep us from being able to register our own
trademark. So this seems to be more a minor nuisance, rather than a
fraudulent registration we would *need* to get overturned promptly. I'm
assuming that German trademark practices aren't that different from the
US, since international agreements in the field mean that at least some
basic principles should be consistent.
It still would have been nice to make a timely objection, but at least
this Jörg Nagel isn't blatantly infringing our trademark. It does make
it difficult if we want to distribute Wikipedia-related merchandise in
Germany, though. I wonder if that's what he had in mind, and what he
intends to do with the trademark. Make a profit by selling it to us, or
by forcing us to use his firm's services for merchandising? I'd be a
little surprised if he intends to start a Wikipedia brand of clothing on
his own. Was this application triggered by some of our German publicity,
I wonder? Just some random thoughts.
--Michael Snow