Quickies: Trademarks, m125, Palm BoD, and More

Recently, Palm Inc. has been telling PalmOS-related websites that they have to stop infringing on their trademark. Palm Infocenter Webmaster Ryan Kairer gives his opinion on the matter for this Cnet article. -Ed

The Palm m125 should be officially launched later today. -Ed

Palm, Inc. has named Gareth C.C. Chang, an expert in technology innovation and international markets, to a newly created seat on its board of directors. -Ed

PDA Forums.com is a new online forum community for peer-to-peer sharing of experiences, tips, tricks, and general know-how. -Frank Osborne

Bachmann Software has made a licensing agreement with Handmark , whereby retail chains nationwide will sell Bachmann’s PrintBoy Pro, which supports printing from the built-in PalmOS applications as well as many of the industry’s leading word processing, spreadsheet and database applications. It should sell for $30. -Kevin Doel

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What a toad

slot_machine @ 9/20/2001 7:37:57 AM #

Why doesn't Carl just limit sales of Palm devices to his 4 friends at the golf club and just get it over with? What's next? A nickel just to say "Palm" out loud? L-O-S-E-R....


The saga continues

CarlBrooks @ 9/20/2001 7:45:09 AM #
If you are interested here is my 25 cents on the matter from September 9, 2001 and September 12, 2001

A lot of Site owners have emailed as a result of these stories, many have contacted their lawyers and have asked not to be mentioned in the story updates while the negotiations are taking place. I spoke with a Palm Trademark spokeperson who offered their side of the story...

Palm Trademark position effects Loyal Supporters -
http://www.palmloyal.com/article.php?sid=404

Palm Trademark position effects Loyal Supporters - Part 2 -
http://www.palmloyal.com/article.php?sid=413



RE: The saga continues
I.M. Anonymous @ 9/22/2001 10:12:19 AM #
Great job on the story Carl! I enjoy your site at http://www.palmloyal.com a lot. You and Ed continue to keep us informed about the Palm world.

Palm for sale?

mikecane @ 9/20/2001 8:03:28 AM #
It seems to me Palm is now striking out to protect its mark so as to get rid of any legal hurdles a buyer might potentially inherit.

If Palm really wanted to do some good, it would get together with other leaders whose brands have fans and support a dot-fan (.fan) domain name. This, I think, would solve the issue. This would clearly show those who use other companies marks are not attached to the company but are supporters.

At the very least, this is a PR nightmare for Palm that could not have come at a worse time.

Come on, grow up

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 8:06:09 AM #
I think Palm users need to grow up a bit!

The same situation is going on with Lego at the moment - they are concerned that other alternative OS's and sites that bear the Lego name are watering down their trademark. They have sent out polite letters to all infringers asking them to change the name. The response from the Lego community and the hacker community in general has been glowing praise for Lego who are speaking to people politly rather than sueing their asses off (it's the American Way). This is exactly what Palm are doing. They are polite, professional and providing a sensible alternative. Sure, the sites may not be quite as easy to find, but how hard is it to use a search engine?

Just because we are feeling left out at the mo because we feel Palm is not inovating (and MS is!) and most of the comment at the mo is anti-Palm, doesn't mean we should be so mean to them when they are taking a caring course of action.

So common boys and girls, grow up and support the company whose product we love.

If you would like to see more on the Lego situation, either go to slashdot.org or www.lugnet.com.

Mike McFarlane

ps I have no Palm stock options ;-)

RE: Come on, grow up
mikecane @ 9/20/2001 9:19:01 AM #
You have no name here, either, despite using a signature on your message. This is another in my harangues for people to register!

RE: Come on, grow up
mikemcfarlane @ 9/20/2001 10:01:37 AM #
Done, felt bad about this while posting, so next step was to register.

What is the problem with not registering? While I visit this site nearly daily, I don't always like to give my details out to every website that I visit/post to.

Mike McFarlane

Yeah I guess so
Polyman @ 9/20/2001 4:12:38 PM #
Alright... I admit that when I first read this post it was a tad ... irritating is the word I guess. But really, you've got a point. While I think that ultimately Palm won't be doing anything other than hurting themselves, they definitely get a little praise in my book for not sending out their lawyers in packs.
I've always thought the only thing that brought Palm out on top in the beginning of the whole pda war in the beginning. The community support and unbelieveably huge amount of third party apps vs. pocketpc apps definitely made the difference (it's what made me switch from wince to palm).
Anyway, that's my $.02

RE: Come on, grow up
Admin @ 9/20/2001 6:09:54 PM #
Let me tell you folks, Palm did not deliver a friendly letter to me nor did they even initially offer us the "right" to use PalmOS instead. I understand Palm's desire to protect their trademarks but I disagree with the way they have chosen to handle it, and that why most sites are turning their backs on Palm to avoid the matter entirely.

One of the strengths of the Palm Economy has been the loyalty of developers and enthusiasts out there evangelizing the Palm Platform. When Palm starts to haggle some of their most vocal supporters, it’s just like shooting yourself in the foot.


---------
Ryan
Editor in Chief
webmaster@palminfocenter.com

RE: Come on, grow up
I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 9:45:12 PM #
Ryan,

Don't change Palminfocenter's name. Stick with it. Or, do what the rest of the Palm sites are doing, focus on PocketPC and maybe give some space to Palm. This respond may be a knee-jerk response but at least you are not getting pushed by some dumbo sitting in some high-back chair at Palm. The state they are in you would think they would concentrate on building their business AND community but no, they want to use their palm and slap it right across the face of people that support them.

The moment iPaq PocketPC 2002 is launched I will go out and get one. I have been holding back for a while out of some "emotional" attachment to Palm and would like them to win the handheld war. Well, Palm, you lost one! Ta-ta.

Can Palm Be related to Adult Sites?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 1:58:52 PM #
I think all sites with the name Palm in it should change there names.. This way to avoid all legal actions and future possibilities with Palm demanding something different in the future...Seeing how Palm seems to have the business model of a 4 year old boy trying to sell lemanade. I also think All the owners of the site;s with the Palm names, sell them or solicitate to other web owners of the adult community and sell the name and rights to them. I am sure some sick minded person could use any name..PalmGoddes..yes even PalmInfocenter.. to there adult likings. At least by doing so it will satisfy Palm to have non "Palm OS Devices" linked to their trademark name of "Palm" and the site owners can compensate themselves of the time and trouble for having to get slaped i the face for being a big supporter of Palm.

All Palm Web Owners

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 2:10:45 PM #
Why no just change your site's name to fht following name. Everyone will still know what your site is about and Palm will having nothing against your new name and move..

http://www.geocities.com/ezra4no1/yawn_2.gif



Just Don't Get It!

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 9:36:57 PM #
You know something, Palm just doesn't get it. You would think with all the brouhaha from the past like the recent MyPalm incident, someone in Palm must have some sense not to do this to their very own asset - the Palm Community. No, they just went right ahead. I used to own 2 Palm V's before but I am seriously thinking of moving into PocketPC 2002 not because of this but I am also tired of their inability to move faster. Sometimes they remind me of Apple.

Too snotty for their own good and lost the ground. At least Apple is sweeter to their community.

Nobody 'owns' our language

philmair @ 9/21/2001 8:16:15 AM #
Sorry if, as a Brit, I'm not up on US legislation, but since when has it been possible to copyright words in common usage ?? I know phrases and tag lines can be protected, but 'palm' ...??

Surely a palmtop, like laptop and desktop are generic descriptions of hardware, the OS is irrelevant. Also, the word palm describes a common part of the body somewhere between the wrist and the fingers. Palmreading, palmprint, palmtree .. are Palm Inc going to lay claim to these words ???

I have registered 'palmtronics' .. its a contrived word, as far as I know I'm the first one to use it. I too got a 'warning e-mail' from Palm Inc. What a bloddy nerve .. palmtronics.com doesn't even have a home page, so they have no idea what the content (or intent) of the web-site will be about. Well I might now dedicate it to the study of electronic hand implants .. so come on Palm Inc ... sue me!!

(And yes Pepper, I do STILL love my palm)

RE: Nobody 'owns' our language
Ieu @ 2/16/2004 1:13:22 PM #
I'm sorry but i have to disagree with the whole Palmtop thing. While it is true that Desktop and Laptops are fairly generic names, Palm worked hard so that they could 'own' Palmtop. The name kinda says it all and back in the days pre-PPC a Palm was THE Palmtops (Psion were pioneering but hardly what i would call a 'palmtop' more like micro laptops).

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