Author

Topic: TRADEMARKS: Bitcoin Solutions, Free Bitcoins, The Bitcoin Store - Is it Legal? (Read 645 times)

legendary
Activity: 2436
Merit: 1561
These trademarks could add something to bitcoin economy.

Nope, not really. They have no impact. At very best (or worse) they could be used to harass small bitcoin related start-ups.
legendary
Activity: 2436
Merit: 1561
I have just searched the UK/EU search engine (https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmtext).

It is amazing seeing how many people have filed junk claims on Bitcoin trademarks, I have see this before with specific crypto-currencies but I doubt any will stick!

Lol, I've counted 4 separate "Bitcoin" (or "BITCOIN") trademarks, one of them with class '30: Chocolates, confectionery'. You want to produce 'Bitcoin' chocolate bar? You can't!

This is even worse than domain squatting.
hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 1000
Move On !!!!!!
I have just searched the UK/EU search engine (https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmtext).

It is amazing seeing how many people have filed junk claims on Bitcoin trademarks, I have see this before with specific crypto-currencies but I doubt any will stick!

Well this is nothing new. This happens whenever some new technology is introduced. People are just trying to profit from anything in the long term. Didn't Coinbase just submit couple of lunatic patents/trademarks a month ago?

People will after all just be people!
legendary
Activity: 3542
Merit: 1352
Cashback 15%
Neither the bitcoin foundation nor anyone else could sue these people registering their brand with the word 'bitcoin' in it. Also, I doubt that these trademarks would pass in any way. Like what the above poster stated, it needs to be distinctive to be deemed as an intellectual property.
sr. member
Activity: 316
Merit: 250
A trademark has to be distinctive to be accepted as the intellectual property of a company by the regulators. Any Bitcoin related phrases aren't distinctive enough to pass the registration process. You see Bitcoin logos and phrases everywhere on the internet. How could you identify any company that uses a well known Bitcoin logo or phrase that everyone else is already using?
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1074
In your opinion, what can the Bitcoin foundation do for you? They are bankrupt and could not fund any type of legal cause of action, even if they wanted to. You are barking up the wrong tree my friend. Most of

those trademarks will not stand up in court anyways, or it will never be approved. Those people just registered it, to cash in on a opportunity that might never pay out.

In the USA anything is possible, people sue other people for much less than this. Greed has NO boundries.  Angry
legendary
Activity: 2424
Merit: 1148
I have just searched the UK/EU search engine (https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmtext).

It is amazing seeing how many people have filed junk claims on Bitcoin trademarks, I have see this before with specific crypto-currencies but I doubt any will stick!
full member
Activity: 162
Merit: 109
Everybody can check trademarks here: http://tess2.uspto.gov/
I checked by word "Bitcoin"
full member
Activity: 162
Merit: 109
Other same trademark:

Code:
Word Mark FREE BITCOINS
Goods and Services IC 036. US 100 101 102. G & S: Financial services, namely, providing a virtual currency for use by members of an on-line community via a global computer network. FIRST USE: 20150206. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20150206
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86535683
Filing Date February 16, 2015
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Bitrush LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE Suite 375 5806 Mesa Drive Austin TEXAS 78731
Attorney of Record John Salcido
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
full member
Activity: 162
Merit: 109
Other same trademark:

Code:
Word Mark THE BITCOIN STORE
Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: On-line retail store services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods of others; Retail store services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods of others
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86590573
Filing Date April 8, 2015
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Perrone, John INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 6353 Richmond Avenue #111 Houston TEXAS 77057
Attorney of Record Udeme Uwan
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
full member
Activity: 162
Merit: 109
I found this trademark
I think it's not-legal trademark because there common words for Bitcoin world - bitcoin & solutions

Other Bitcoin LIVE trademarks has a like this notice:

"Disclaimer    NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "BITCOIN EXCHANGE" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN"
"Disclaimer    NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "BITCOIN" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN"

But this doesn't have. I think the Bitcoin Foundation should do something against this. What do you think?

Code:
Word Mark BITCOIN SOLUTIONS
Goods and Services IC 036. US 100 101 102. G & S: Cryptocurrency payment processing
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86604673
Filing Date April 21, 2015
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Bitcoin Solutions LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TEXAS #111 6353 Richmond Avenue Houston TEXAS 77057
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

P.S. I think - these trademarks are created with the expectation to litigate later. They are like time bombs.
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