<nettime> Leonardo trademark dispute (fwd)

[Andreas Broeckmann <abroeck@v2.nl>]

To: Leonardo Editorial Advisors
From: Roger Malina, Chairman Leonardo/ISAST <Roger.Malina@astrsp-mrs.fr>

Re; Leonardo Trademark dispute and survival battle
==================================================

Leonardo is being attacked legally by an outfit
called Transasia Corporation and Leonardo Finance.

They are trying to prevent us from using the name
Leonardo in our activities.

Although we have established clearly the use of the
name Leonardo through our publications and projects for over thirty
years with registation of ISSN and ISBN for
our publications and with annual copyrighting of
our publications- they are trying to attack us.

They claim they filed a trademark registration in France (0nly)
in 1995, for Leonardo Invest and Leonardo Angels in 1998 .
They are trying to use this to force out
any use of the name Leonardo by others on the internet.
(you can find these people on the web- as well
as dozens of other web sites using the word Leonardo)


They have used strong arm tactics intended to force
us out of business They sent 8 policemen with
a search warrant to my 85 year old mother's home in
Paris to copy papers with the word Leonardo on
them.( We wish they had helped my mother by taking the garage
full of thirty year old papers that are stored there !! ) Our legal
bills are already in the thousands of dollars and there
is a first court appearance scheduled in France.

We have put together a legal team. Our legal advisors tell us that
we should prevail in the long term if we can afford to fight the legal
battle.

As you will know from reading the press there are a number
of large companies trying to agressively get possession
of certain names and words on the web . These
companies have clearly decided that although they may
have weak legal arguments they can force others out
of business by raising the cost to unacceptable levels
for non-profit and cultural groups that started internet
work long before they did.

a) If any of you are already involved in similar law
suits- we would like to collaborate with you to help
us all respond to these attacks.

b) We would welcome any assistance on the Leonardo
Legal team that has been put together, especially
if you have any experience that may be germane.

c) And we would welcome any pressure you can apply
if you happen to be in contact with the parties
that are attacking us. However, before you contact
any such party, please coordinate with us first.



http://mitpress.mit.edu/e-journals/Leonardo/


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