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From: erkyrath@netcom.com (Andrew Plotkin)
Subject: Re: I-F Awards
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References: <1996Sep16.110100@carleton.edu> <51nk0h$fqq@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net> <Dxx9pM.HGz@canon.co.uk> <51pebf$pc@er5.rutgers.edu> <324305A0.65AB@tuna.net> <kjfair-ya023080002609961052400001@uchinews.uchicago.edu> <Pine.LNX.3.95.960926121321.25717F-100000@adamant.res.wpi.edu> <52so6h$of8@news-s01.ca.us.ibm.net>
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 1996 05:50:38 GMT
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Steven Howard (blore@ibm.net) wrote:
> >   Ich.  If we're gonna violate a copyright may as well make it a good one
> >and go with 'the Floyd awards'..  

> Am I the only one here who understands the difference between copyright and
> trademark, and who seriously doubts Infocom ever trademarked "Floyd" or
> "Flathead"?

I *wish* it were that simple. You can be sued for using a character from 
someone else's copyrighted work in your own original work, with no 
trademarks involved. I don't understand why that's true, which means I 
don't understand enough to say whether "the Floyd awards" is legally 
actionable.

(Not that I seriously think Activision would care.)

--Z

-- 

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the
borogoves..."
