🚀 go-pugleaf

In a discussion on how "Trademarks are not supposed to prevent people 
from using their legal name on any product they sell themselves," 
Aron Roberts writes:

[tale of Corr's soda, made by Robert Corr, being sued by Coors' beer --
 possibly one of the stupidest court cases _I've_ ever heard of]

>I believe that the pop artist and "synthesizer wiz" Thomas Dolby 
>("She Blinded Me with Science"), who changed his name so that 
>"Dolby," formerly one of his two middle names, became his last name, 
>also ran into a court battle with the company holding the rights to 
>the Dolby recording process.  To the best of my recollection, the 
>performer prevailed over the company. 

No, he didn't.  Thomas Dolby may not advertise his concerts "DOLBY!":
he has to use his first name as well, _in the same size type_ as "Dolby,"
or Dolby Labs takes him back to court.

So much for free enterprise.  (No, he didn't change his name to make use
of a trademark;  his last name was pretty unmemorable.  Followups to
rec.music.)


Ellen Keyne Seebacher     {ihnp4!gargoyle, oddjob}!sphinx!see1