Silly Legal Threats for Dummies

Filed as General on February 8, 2006 10:09 pm

by Duncan

J-Cal is in strife with the For Dummies people for one of the Weblogs Inc., blogs using “for dummies” in a headline. Daft really, given that the phrase “for dummies” was in common usage far before any trademark would have been given to the company, and once again also highlights the stupidy of US trademark laws.

Update: Jeff Jarvis is calling for people to protest against the letter by posting “for dummies” in a headline of their blog.

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  1. By Martin posted on February 8, 2006 at 11:34 pm
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    Duncan … expect to get your “cease …” letter from John Wiley & Sons anytime soon :-)

  2. By John Evans (SYNTAGMA) posted on February 9, 2006 at 9:47 am
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    I’ve just used the line “… for Dimwits” over on my blog. Far better than dummies, anyway, which has a variety of meanings. Let’s hear it for Dimwits.

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