On Thu, Nov 17, 2011 at 8:56 AM, Kazunari Hirano <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Rob and all, > > On Thu, Nov 17, 2011 at 10:23 PM, Rob Weir <[email protected]> wrote: >> I don't think so. Part of protecting a brand is to prevent "confusing >> similarity"., For example, we could not go out and sell soft drinks >> under the name "Coca-Cola.org" or pizza under the name "Pizza >> Hut.net". > > I see. > > In Japan "OpenOffice" is the registered trademark (No.4688483, > registered on July 4, 2003) [1] owned by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.[2] > > [1] > http://www1.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/syutsugan/TM_DETAIL_A.cgi?0&2&0&1&5&132153723258785500651374 > [2] http://www.fujixerox.co.jp/company/about/oof.html > > We have been using "OpenOffice.org" for a long time in Japan, no problem. > :) >
And that is fine. A trademark is for a particular category of product. The Japanese trademark is not for personal productivity applications. It is possible for the same name to be used in different trademarks, if they are used for different things and they would not cause confusion. > Thanks, > khirano >
