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Subject: 
Re: Use of trademarks.. is www.legoaftermarket.com legal?
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.market.brickshops, lugnet.market.theory
Date: 
Wed, 9 Oct 2002 23:40:52 GMT
Viewed: 
2290 times
  
In lugnet.market.brickshops, Alfred Speredelozzi writes:
Is www.legoaftermarket.com legal?

I think it is.  At least in the region of the 7th circuit court of
appeals in the U.S.

This case is an interesting read for anyone selling Lego toys.  It is a
case brought by Ty (Beanie Babies) against a website owner who uses
"beanie" in her URL.  They own the trademark in "Beanie Babies" and
think that her site dilutes their mark.  The problem?  She is selling
actual Ty products.  Since the trademark is there to identify the source
of the product (not to allow the producer to control who can sell the
product) it is legitimate to use it when selling that product.


Well I think it would have been a different decision if they had used "TY"
in the URL, which is what you have suggested with the LEGO name. But there
again LEGO is their name and it's not like many other company names that
come from general use english words, they made the word up so I'd say it's
thiers to own and protect.


<snip>

Possible problems:
"Beanie" is a lot more generic than "Lego", a point that added to the
strength of the Appeals court decision.
The "Lego" brand is the company name, rather than just the product
brand.  A court may see the company name as needing stronger protection,
but I doubt it.  Given this opinion, if I sold used Toyotas I believe I
could legally use www.AlsUsedToyotas.com.


That might not be correct, I know that Ford and Chrysler have sued many
people over using their names in URLs, including names of thier products
(ie. Jeep, Dodge, Volvo, Jaguar, etc)

jt



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Use of trademarks.. is www.legoaftermarket.com legal?
 
(...) True. Though this decision is a departure from the way lower courts have been treating URLs. It is change in policy. So, future suits by Ford and Chrysler may not be successful. Also, keep in mind this case is about someone selling Ty's (...) (22 years ago, 10-Oct-02, to lugnet.market.theory)

Message is in Reply To:
  Use of trademarks.. is www.legoaftermarket.com legal?
 
Is www.legoaftermarket.com legal? I think it is. At least in the region of the 7th circuit court of appeals in the U.S. This case is an interesting read for anyone selling Lego toys. It is a case brought by Ty (Beanie Babies) against a website owner (...) (22 years ago, 9-Oct-02, to lugnet.market.brickshops, lugnet.market.theory)  

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