Hormel sues over SpamArrest

alex

alex

Well-Known Member
No one likes spam. But lots of people like Spam.


Confused?


Hormel is worried you will be. That's why the pork powerhouse is trying to block trademark filings from SpamArrest, the Seattle-based, self-proclaimed defender of your inbox.


Tonight on "Tech Live," see how Spam, or spam, has become a four-letter word with a dual meaning. It's a story of humor, email frustration, legal trysts, and geek culture.


Full Story
 
Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, eggs and spam without the eggs. :D
 
I believe precedent says that a word/words can be trademarked by two different companies so long as they don't/can't/won't compete in the same product category.

That's why you have more than one Apple, etc. AFAIK, software and food will never quite be in the same product category. :)

Though, I suppose Hormel is arguing that Spam has become such a household name, for more than one reason, that influences from even different product categories might have a deleterious effect on their marketing effectiveness. I think they'll have a hard time making their case. Trademark law is pretty clear about this, so they will have to show some demonstrable negative effect beyond what has always been given consideration.
 
Shyeah, like I'm the only one that gets potted meat in my e-mail. :D

Seriously, the way OSLI put it is the way I've always understood it too.
 
i believe that apple computers and apple records had a deal that the comp company would not produce audio, thus ensuring no cross-over of trademark. hence why one of the first apple-sounds was called 'tsosumi' :D
 
spam the computer term isn't a separate trademarked product name, though. It's a derogatory term. Hormel figures that people will not want Spam because people don't want spam.
 
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