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Topic: Is bitcoin registrated trademark name ? (Read 2113 times)

sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
March 03, 2014, 04:06:21 PM
#25
I mean... can I use the term bitcoin freely in my business ?

You need to go to:

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

And conduct a Trademark Search.

The term "Bitcoin" was actually trademarked for about a month in connection with cryptocurrency but was abandoned.

"Bitcoin" is trademarked in connection with certain goods and services but I'd bet that for must uses due to the ubiquitous nature of the term that subsequent registrations would not hold up.

My $.02.

Wink



Pretty certain this is correct.  Good post.

Thanks!

I try to do my homework!

Wink
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
March 03, 2014, 02:41:23 PM
#24
I mean... can I use the term bitcoin freely in my business ?

You need to go to:

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

And conduct a Trademark Search.

The term "Bitcoin" was actually trademarked for about a month in connection with cryptocurrency but was abandoned.

"Bitcoin" is trademarked in connection with certain goods and services but I'd bet that for must uses due to the ubiquitous nature of the term that subsequent registrations would not hold up.

My $.02.

Wink



Pretty certain this is correct.  Good post.
legendary
Activity: 1008
Merit: 1000
Making money since I was in the womb! @emc2whale
March 03, 2014, 02:40:41 PM
#23
Is there a trademark on $?

sr. member
Activity: 421
Merit: 250
March 03, 2014, 02:37:30 PM
#22
I's a bad idea to create an online currency and call it Bitcoin. In other cases you can use the term "Bitcoin" as you wish
legendary
Activity: 1498
Merit: 1000
March 01, 2014, 04:52:09 PM
#21
I wonder if that will be part of their assets, if they sell that to a patient troll or someone for some nice money, we could be all screwed.
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
March 01, 2014, 04:47:47 PM
#20

Fortunately a trademark must be actively defended or it will be ruled invalid.

That means that every time Bitcoin was used MtGox would have needed to notify the user that they are using a trademark of MtGox.  They could allow the usage to continue, but at a minimum they needed to insist that the TM symbol follows, and that a notation is included indicating that Bitcoin is a trademark of MtGox.

Years of failing to do so, results in loss of the trademark to the public domain.

Yeah, Baby!

What you wrote!

Wink
hero member
Activity: 756
Merit: 501
March 01, 2014, 04:09:35 PM
#19

Fortunately a trademark must be actively defended or it will be ruled invalid.

That means that every time Bitcoin was used MtGox would have needed to notify the user that they are using a trademark of MtGox.  They could allow the usage to continue, but at a minimum they needed to insist that the TM symbol follows, and that a notation is included indicating that Bitcoin is a trademark of MtGox.

Years of failing to do so, results in loss of the trademark to the public domain.
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
March 01, 2014, 11:28:13 AM
#18
Though it's not trademarked, it's not the best idea to use this term in your buisness

Why not?

Enquiring minds want to know!

;
newbie
Activity: 34
Merit: 0
March 01, 2014, 05:12:59 AM
#17
Though it's not trademarked, it's not the best idea to use this term in your buisness
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
February 28, 2014, 03:22:41 PM
#16

Yeah, so I am told but with notable exceptions, they are mostly harmless.

My $.02.

Wink
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
February 28, 2014, 03:21:14 PM
#15
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
February 28, 2014, 03:17:34 PM
#14
I mean... can I use the term bitcoin freely in my business ?

You need to go to:

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

And conduct a Trademark Search.

The term "Bitcoin" was actually trademarked for about a month in connection with cryptocurrency but was abandoned.

"Bitcoin" is trademarked in connection with certain goods and services but I'd bet that for must uses due to the ubiquitous nature of the term that subsequent registrations would not hold up.

My $.02.

Wink

newbie
Activity: 7
Merit: 0
February 28, 2014, 10:14:00 AM
#13
You can use the word / term "Bitcoin" when your talking about them, etc.. but you can create an online currency and call it Bitcoin as Im guessing they would take action.
hero member
Activity: 617
Merit: 528
February 24, 2014, 01:57:17 PM
#12
I thought trying to trademark something like Bitcoin would get thrown out because it's already in use and in the public domain?

In the theoretical world where are government functions work perfectly it would be.  The rejection would be universal across every country and would occur no matter how often companies attempted registration again.

In the real world?  Patent and trademarks are big business they are routinely used by large companies (who have hundreds of lawyers who do nothing but seek patents and trademarks) and used as a weapon.  Against larger competitors they are used to secure cross licensing deals, against smaller competitors they are used to simply destroy the competition.

Fortunately we are in an environment that allows multimillion operations through forum handles. 'Mt. Gox vs. DeathAndTaxes'. I think we're safe.
global moderator
Activity: 3990
Merit: 2717
Join the world-leading crypto sportsbook NOW!
February 24, 2014, 09:34:01 AM
#11
It's not a trademark actually so I think you can use it. No one ask if he can use such words as "gold", "silver" etc.

See DeathandTaxes post above.
jr. member
Activity: 42
Merit: 20
February 24, 2014, 12:06:35 AM
#10
It's not a trademark actually so I think you can use it. No one ask if he can use such words as "gold", "silver" etc.
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
January 30, 2014, 03:50:34 PM
#9
I thought trying to trademark something like Bitcoin would get thrown out because it's already in use and in the public domain?

In the theoretical world where are government functions work perfectly it would be.  The rejection would be universal across every country and would occur no matter how often companies attempted registration again.

In the real world?  Patent and trademarks are big business they are routinely used by large companies (who have hundreds of lawyers who do nothing but seek patents and trademarks) and used as a weapon.  Against larger competitors they are used to secure cross licensing deals, against smaller competitors they are used to simply destroy the competition.
hero member
Activity: 840
Merit: 509
January 30, 2014, 03:47:32 PM
#8
I thought trying to trademark something like Bitcoin would get thrown out because it's already in use and in the public domain?
global moderator
Activity: 3990
Merit: 2717
Join the world-leading crypto sportsbook NOW!
January 30, 2014, 03:45:33 PM
#6
I mean... can I use the term bitcoin freely in my business ?

No, it's not trademarked, yes you can use it freely.

Ahem
https://www.mtgox.com/press_release_20111014.html

Of course at the time MtGox stated they "had" to keep the trademark as there is no way to release a trademark into the public domain.  However there is now a non-profit foundation, however the trademark remains with a for profit company.  All for your own good, of course.  We all know that MtGox, its owners, and all future owners until the end of time will never attempt to profit from this very valuable trademark.

Oh, so Gox holds the trademark? Can't they sign it over to the foundation or something? Not really happy about them holding it. What happens if they go out of business or get bought out?
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