![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
Yeah... I'd like to see T-Mobile take this to court and be thrown out while being laughed at.
Yeah... I'd like to see T-Mobile take this to court and be thrown out while being laughed at.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-123766-100x100.png\")
On a completely unrelated note, The Ohio State University sues Deutsche Telecom AG for using the color gray.
Wow. It's not even a similar color. Corporations have gone absolutely haywire, and must be reined in.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-38686-100x100.png\")
Typeface is different.
Very similar to what would happen if AT&T tried to sue Ford for using the color blue, or if Verizon tried to sue MTX loudspeakers or Pizza Hut for their black and red themes.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103034-100x100.png\")
oh, and uh, as far as I know, DT hasn't actually sued Weblogs, Inc, yet. way to sensationalize the topic, yet again.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1178-100x100.png\")
In similar news, Coldplay is suing the sun for using the color yellow.
From their most recent shareholders meeting:
\"We need to improve our bottom line but we're too lazy and dumb to try and find new revenue streams so we're just going to do what we always do.
We'll flip the coin. We either raise prices or we sue somebody.\"
:FLIP:
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-126842-100x100.png\")
I remember reading a writeup on T-Mobile's trademark on Magenta at ColourLovers and the opinion was basically settled that as long as another cell phone company came into a T-Mobile market and used the color to the point of confusing the general consumer, that there was no way this would fly.
That said, this effort is ridiculous and I hope in addition to prevailing Engadget makes T-Mobile sorry (financially) that they ever persued this assinine course of action.
The real problem here is that color blind T-mobile users will now not be able to distinguish between the logos unless they also can read English and tell the letter T from the letter M, which we now know the T-mobile legal department cannot do.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-74749-100x100.png\")
I'm not brain dead, I can see the difference.
Maybe they should sue Barbie, because dolls are sold
I always wanted to receive one of these ridiculous letters from a ridiculous attorney working for a ridiculous company... just so I could take a big black sharpie, write \"FUCK OFF\" in block letters, and mail it back to them.
Engadget is basically \"in\" with every tech company there is. Engadgets people will call T-Mobile's people and this will be over in a week.
If not, T-Mobile is screwed. Engadget is a powerful force in the tech blog world.
this annoys me so much. I'm looking at becoming a soft IP (not patent) attorney, and, seriously? Seriously? There's no way this would stand up to scrutiny under the Lanham Act (particularly since T-Mobile admits they provide two very different services - you know, how we *somehow* manage to know that Delta Dental, Delta Airlines and Delta Faucets aren't related?).
Maybe it's because they're German. I know very little of German IP law, except that they're the main reason we have the ridiculously long copyright terms now. (Germany had the longest term, so the EU countries rounded up to that; the US extended to meet the EU standard, so US authors would get reciprocated protection - it wasn't actually about Disney, in fact.)
My T-Mobile contract just expired. This bullshit is enough to make me move (although I'm terrified of all cell companies now - I read this blog too much).
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-313764-100x100.png\")
I'm just registered the trademark for blue, and patented shiny.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-363089-100x100.png\")
And in a related story.... Blues Clues, a popular kids show on Nickelodeon has been sued by T Mobile for having a character named Magenta. A spokesperson for T Mobile has released this statement.
\"We feel its important for the consumer to know the difference between a cell phone company, and a fake stuffed cartoon dog. We believe that the average consumer will have a difficult time separating the two.\"
@matt7718: Plus, since Weblogs Inc is owned by AOL, AOL could just launch an EIMCB, if you will, and tell the world to stop using T-Mobile.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-37033-100x100.png\")
@modenastradale:
I'd settle for any company that shows a pattern of frivolous trademark lawsuits (Monster) losing protection for any trademarks it owns.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-363287-100x100.png\")
I would have thought that, with all the time they spend designing great products and innovating the future of communications, they wouldn't have time to waste on nonsense like this.
Whoops, got it backwards. Sorry...
What is with the extremely misleading headlines lately? The only thing that has happened so far is that T-Mobile has sent a letter.
I have often wondered why Motorola and Williams ( pinball maker ) didn't sue each other over their logos. They look very much like inversions of each other. I guess that both companies were busy busy designing and manufacturing good products to get involved in petty bickering.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-351819-100x100.png\")
@Zain
It's the Henny Penny effect. Gets people more involved. Just saying you got sent a letter dosn't quite have the pazzaz of being sued.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-71483-100x100.png\")
I wonder if Flickr can get in on this because Engadget stole their Cyan & Magenta theme...? :rolleyes:
@camille_javal:
I've had no trouble with Virgin Mobile. They're on Sprint's network, so quality of service could depend on where you live, but they're (AFAIK) strictly non-contract, with prices comparable to regular old Sprint.
The down side is their automated customer service robot recordings are done with this really obnoxious, forced, \"youthful and cool\" voice.
That's actually the biggest down side that I've encountered so far.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-160972-100x100.png\")
The letter (posted on engadget) actually sounds pretty reasonable, if you ignore the massive stupidity behind their reasoning. It isn't a lawsuit, simply a request to set things right (in T-Mobile's opinion). They even offer to help out with a plan to phase out old crap.
Now, the really interesting thing that I wasn't aware of (even being a regular engadget reader) is the affiliation of engadget and the \"AOL and Time Warner families\"...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1475-100x100.png\")
T-Mobile needs to focus on not sucking.
Again, the editors have made stuff up. DT is not suing anyone yet. Please don't go making a bad situation worse by rumor mongering. Thank you!
One question; why do companies hate getting sued over something dumb but will sue each other in a heart beat? Give me a break T-Mobile!!! April's fool or not.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-251966-100x100.png\")
In related news...
I have sent a C & D notice to T-mobile based on the fact that I was using the English language before they were and feel they are unfairly trading on my communications franchise.
Next month all you T-mobilites can expect your bills in Urdu...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-151293-100x100.png\")
T-Mobile does not have a valid legal claim here since, as far as I'm aware, the two must be in the same industry for the law to apply. This clearly isn't the case.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-16563-100x100.png\")
Damn. I told Endgadget they should have used Hot Pink instead.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-9056-100x100.png\")
Damn you CMYK!!! DAMN YOU!!!
This just in...
I patent and trademark for the middle dots have just been approved by the U.S. Patent Office, with 100 other countries following suit.
T Mobile is REALLY FUCKED now!
Breaking news flash: the estate of Samuel Morse filed suit this morning for T-Mobile's infringing use of Morse's \"s\".
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-86026-100x100.png\")
Since when are colors allowed to be copyrighted ?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-19745-100x100.png\")
All your Teal are belong to us.
I would change it right away! Who wants to be associated with T-Mobile?
Just out of curiosity I took the logo's into illustrator to see the CMYK percentages...not really that close T-mobile...sorry.
Their case is not valid if you ask me. T-Mobile has trademarked/copyrighted that EXACT shade of magenta they use in their logo, and it's clear from the image that the offending logo is NOT using that exact shade of magenta. The logo doesn't even resemble T-Mobile's for them to have a case on that point.
This just in!
Coca-Cola is suing every fire department in the world for having trucks painted red with a white stripe on it.
Now companies are trying to copyright a COLOR? What's next...letters?
I'm getting sick of companies \"owning\" colors. Get over it folks, the color spectrum is © the Sun, our star... Or ©whatever lamp there is in the room. Not yours.
Where is Magenta Corp, with it's magenta company logo when you need one?
yep. Not the same color.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-371009-100x100.png\")
@TechnoDestructo: My company has trademarked frivolous lawsuits and will now begin suing Monster, T-Mobile, the RIAA, and Gibson for encroaching on our IP.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-73631-100x100.png\")
As ridiculous as this is, some court might listen if they shop around long enough.
A hockey team (16-18 year olds) in a city I lived in for a short time was sued by an NHL team over their uniform \"similarities\". The small-town team had white jerseys with red and blue stripes around the waist in similar colours and width to the NHL team.
The courts upheld it and the small team was forced to change their jerseys despite the two teams logos having no similarities at all, and nobody knew of the smaller team outside of their regional league.
@Psicosis: Wouldn't be the first time there has been a lawsuit over colour..
[www.shelstonip.com]
If having similar colours on a similar product is the basis for a lawsuit, one has to wonder why CocaCola (owners of Sprite) and Pepsi (owners of 7up) don't sue each other for having green bottles for their clear products.
And would they sue anyone new who also used green bottles to sell a clear soft drink?
the patent office needs to give its collective head a shake if they are allowing colours to be patented
sorry i didn't realize that KJones didn't close off on the italics
closed now
should of closed now closed ?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-90186-100x100.png\")
I got dibs on black
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-341622-100x100.png\")
I have the letter T (in any color) now trademarked.
I call dibs on patenting italic.
KJones, chartrule, graffiksguru and MrBill38, you suckers OWE.
And future commentators, you'll hear from my lawyers by end of day.
That color isn't even close. What a rediculous situation. I think T-Mobile should be sued for sucking.
Wow, Consumerist - can we please BAN italics? Thanks!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-159466-100x100.png\")
Engadget's site is awesomely pinktastic now.
@Trai_Dep:
As the CEO of Boldly Bolding Bolders Inc. I must inform you that you've infringed upon our trademark bolding of the word \"italic\" (notice the bolding) and will be hearing from our legal department.
Try again, chump. Look at the page's source.
\"The Consumerist\"'s scripts changed my closing tag.
solution is for ALL blogs to start using magenta.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-5270-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-335120-100x100.png\")
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![[finnesey.org]](\"http://finnesey.org/misc/engadget.gif\"){kind=link}
![[img245.imageshack.us]](\"http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tmobzp3.jpg\"){kind=link}
uhmmm. deutsche bags?