Comments on: Dummies For Dummies http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:33:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Dummies » Nanotechnology For Dummies http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-124279 Dummies » Nanotechnology For Dummies Mon, 04 Sep 2006 18:05:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-124279 [...] BuzzMachine Blog Archive Dummies For DummiesWell the dork-of-the-day title surely goes to the fool who sent Jason Calacanis an email saying that he shouldn t use For Dummies in a headline without giving credit to a certain book company [...] [...] BuzzMachine Blog Archive Dummies For DummiesWell the dork-of-the-day title surely goes to the fool who sent Jason Calacanis an email saying that he shouldn t use For Dummies in a headline without giving credit to a certain book company [...]

]]> By: Creative License for Dummies at Jackson Miller http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-32044 Creative License for Dummies at Jackson Miller Mon, 13 Mar 2006 04:55:05 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-32044 [...] I am posting this in response to Jeff Jarvis’ Dummies for Dummies post. Well the dork-of-the-day title surely goes to the fool who sent Jason Calacanis an email saying that he shouldn’t use “For Dummies” in a headline without giving credit to a certain book company I’ll not bother to name. [...] [...] I am posting this in response to Jeff Jarvis’ Dummies for Dummies post. Well the dork-of-the-day title surely goes to the fool who sent Jason Calacanis an email saying that he shouldn’t use “For Dummies” in a headline without giving credit to a certain book company I’ll not bother to name. [...]

]]> By: Ted http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-31705 Ted Wed, 08 Mar 2006 20:18:16 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-31705 Oh, oh. With all the literalists out there, I'll bet some readers are head-shaking right now. Irony is hard. (Cast irony is harder.) Oh, oh. With all the literalists out there, I’ll bet some readers are head-shaking right now. Irony is hard. (Cast irony is harder.)

]]> By: Ted http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-31703 Ted Wed, 08 Mar 2006 20:16:09 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-31703 Re: "fordummies". What are 'ummies' and why does Ford have anything to do with them? They should stick to the auto industry, unless 'ummies' are car thingies. Then that's okay. Re: “fordummies”. What are ‘ummies’ and why does Ford have anything to do with them? They should stick to the auto industry, unless ‘ummies’ are car thingies. Then that’s okay.

]]> By: Sue Pleydee http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29209 Sue Pleydee Sat, 11 Feb 2006 13:40:57 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29209 It's one thing to face a situation like this if you are a well-known blogger with equally well-known friends going to bat for you. It's quite another to face it as a somewhat more minor light in the blogosphere. When the lawyers from Simon&Shush-ter came for me, all I had was the joy of a website called Chilling Effects. http://www.chillingeffects.org/ It’s one thing to face a situation like this if you are a well-known blogger with equally well-known friends going to bat for you. It’s quite another to face it as a somewhat more minor light in the blogosphere. When the lawyers from Simon&Shush-ter came for me, all I had was the joy of a website called Chilling Effects.
http://www.chillingeffects.org/

]]> By: Amy Alkon http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29187 Amy Alkon Sat, 11 Feb 2006 08:23:13 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29187 I'm sorry, but if you have a trademark (and I do), my understanding is that you have to defend against use by others of your mark or your ownership of the mark becomes watered down. Perhaps a trademark lawyer could weigh in on that? I’m sorry, but if you have a trademark (and I do), my understanding is that you have to defend against use by others of your mark or your ownership of the mark becomes watered down. Perhaps a trademark lawyer could weigh in on that?

]]> By: Netweb » Stupid Lawyer Tricks For Dummies http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29184 Netweb » Stupid Lawyer Tricks For Dummies Sat, 11 Feb 2006 06:47:55 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29184 [...] Jason Calacanis with the original e-mail correspondence here and Jeff Jarvis here. [...] [...] Jason Calacanis with the original e-mail correspondence here and Jeff Jarvis here. [...]

]]> By: Marty Schwimmer http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29153 Marty Schwimmer Fri, 10 Feb 2006 16:35:10 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29153 I'm a trademark lawyer and here's my take: http://www.schwimmerlegal.com/archives/2006/02/trademark_attri.html I’m a trademark lawyer and here’s my take:

http://www.schwimmerlegal.com/archives/2006/02/trademark_attri.html

]]> By: Technoogle » Blog Archive » How to be Dummy, for Dummies http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29136 Technoogle » Blog Archive » How to be Dummy, for Dummies Fri, 10 Feb 2006 13:20:08 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29136 [...] Joke aside, This post is a part of “For Dummies Blog Protest” kindly suggested by Jeff Jarvis, because of some fool who sent Jason Calacanis an email saying that he shouldn’t use “For Dummies” in a headline without giving credit to a their book company which as he claims own the term. [...] [...] Joke aside, This post is a part of “For Dummies Blog Protest” kindly suggested by Jeff Jarvis, because of some fool who sent Jason Calacanis an email saying that he shouldn’t use “For Dummies” in a headline without giving credit to a their book company which as he claims own the term. [...]

]]> By: Anne http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29124 Anne Fri, 10 Feb 2006 06:14:47 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29124 Forgive my incredulity, but is this a hoax? Does this Kathleen person really exist? I just can't believe someone could be so devoid of common sense to make such an assertion and offer themselves up as blog fodder. Forgive my incredulity, but is this a hoax? Does this Kathleen person really exist? I just can’t believe someone could be so devoid of common sense to make such an assertion and offer themselves up as blog fodder.

]]> By: Jackson http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29112 Jackson Fri, 10 Feb 2006 02:29:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29112 IANAL but... Wait, since I am not a lawyer I don't have much to add. Seems like creative license to me though. IANAL but…

Wait, since I am not a lawyer I don’t have much to add.

Seems like creative license to me though.

]]> By: Michael http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29104 Michael Fri, 10 Feb 2006 01:10:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29104 As any infingee should know (er, know better), use of a common term isn't explicity trademark infringement. Gimme a break. Jason should make this as public as possible just so Wiley can learn what it's like to be their namesake product's audience. As any infingee should know (er, know better), use of a common term isn’t explicity trademark infringement.

Gimme a break. Jason should make this as public as possible just so Wiley can learn what it’s like to be their namesake product’s audience.

]]> By: » Silly Legal Threats for Dummies The Blog Herald: more blog news more often http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29100 » Silly Legal Threats for Dummies The Blog Herald: more blog news more often Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:46:18 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29100 [...] 8th, 2006 and is filed under News Brief. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently notallowed. [...] [...] 8th, 2006 and is filed under News Brief. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently notallowed. [...]

]]> By: Jersey Exile http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29080 Jersey Exile Thu, 09 Feb 2006 21:10:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29080 Try selling a mug or T-shirt online with the logo "Got Jarvis?" and see how long it takes to get a takedown order or lawsuit threat. I dare ya. Sure, technically you have the law on your side since you're not selling milk or any other kind of beverage for that matter, but are you willing to spend a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees in order to prove it? And if you're using a web-based print shop, guess what? They won't even let you go to the mat anyway for your right to parody and/or satire, because it's their ass on the line as much as it is yours. Trademark lawyers may not kill anyone or burn down embassies, but their tactics -- based on fear, not the law -- are no less stifling to free and open discourse and the marketplace of ideas. To the average Joe or Jane out there in the blogosphere, what's the difference between a multimillion dollar infringement suit or a death threat? Both succeed in silencing all but the bravest and/or foolish of voices. Try selling a mug or T-shirt online with the logo “Got Jarvis?” and see how long it takes to get a takedown order or lawsuit threat. I dare ya. Sure, technically you have the law on your side since you’re not selling milk or any other kind of beverage for that matter, but are you willing to spend a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees in order to prove it? And if you’re using a web-based print shop, guess what? They won’t even let you go to the mat anyway for your right to parody and/or satire, because it’s their ass on the line as much as it is yours.

Trademark lawyers may not kill anyone or burn down embassies, but their tactics — based on fear, not the law — are no less stifling to free and open discourse and the marketplace of ideas. To the average Joe or Jane out there in the blogosphere, what’s the difference between a multimillion dollar infringement suit or a death threat? Both succeed in silencing all but the bravest and/or foolish of voices.

]]> By: TLB http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29071 TLB Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:27:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/09/dummies-for-dummies/#comment-29071 As a trademark infringee, I agree with Wiley. Hopefully a trademark lawyer will weigh in, but unless it's a parody/satire or a review of a For Dummies book or similar, I think they have the right to enforce their mark. As a trademark infringee, I agree with Wiley. Hopefully a trademark lawyer will weigh in, but unless it’s a parody/satire or a review of a For Dummies book or similar, I think they have the right to enforce their mark.

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