[Noisebridge-discuss] Letter to MakerBot?

[Martin Bogomolni]

A search of TESS (Trademark search on the PTO website) does not show
any marks registered to MakerBot Industries for "Replicator"  Right
now they have the following registered trademarks:

Serial Number	Reg. Number	Word Mark	Check Status	Live/Dead
1	85506629		MIGHTY BOARD	TARR	LIVE
2	85229896		BOTCAVE	TARR	LIVE
3	85229846		BOTFARM	TARR	LIVE
4	85257855	4022863	STEPSTRUDER	TARR	LIVE
5	85139073	3966088	THINGIVERSE	TARR	LIVE
6	85138992	3966080	THING-O-MATIC	TARR	LIVE
7	77797812	3761183	MAKERBOT	TARR	LIVE

So, as far as these things go .. They don't yet have the (tm) to go
with their Replicator mark.

Thus, it's a non-issue.   They may have filed for a trademark, but it
hasn't yet been issued.  Also, the mark is a _specific_ thing and
related to a specific product, and I don't think they would have much
of a leg to stand on to send a C&D over "Replicator XXXday"
considering it's not a product for sale.

-Martin



On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 3:33 PM, Elijah Post <elijahpost at gmail.com> wrote:
> I feel that because MakerBot has a great deal of press, and also is putting
> a "TM" symbol after every single time the word 'replicator' appears, that we
> at least owe them a letter.
>
> I was about to send something like this, but wanted to see if anyone would
> stop me before doing so.
>
> Tl;dr
>
> "Dear MakerBot Industries,
>
>
> Let me begin my saying that I love MakerBot and the awareness that you folks
> spread, and the announcement of your third generation printer is something
> for which I congratulate you wholeheartedly.
>
>
>
> Let me also say that the methods by which the 3D printing is explained by
> MakerBot is equally superb in it's simplicity and terms of the layman's
> perspective.
>
>
>
> We have had an event called Replicator Wednesday for the last six months.
> During Replicator Wednesdays, 3D printer enthusiasts and people interested
> in learning how to 3D print all get together for some fun. Awareness is
> raised. The hope is that soon we will have the resources so that every
> person who shows up can take home a new thing that they themselves printed
> and that they themselves be interested in making or buying a 3D printer.
>
>
>
> In the south bay, another event also called Replicator Wednesday appeared a
> few months ago. They focus on pretty much the same thing. When they used our
> name- these folks being people we already knew from the Bay Area RepRap
> email list, we saw that it was totally cool, and have since begun a very
> loving affiliation with them. In fact now once a month the two Replicator
> Wednesdays meet up and do one massive Replicator Wednesday. Lots of things
> get made and there are smiles all around.
>
>
>
> We’ve been talking a lot since Monday’s announcement of the Makerbot
> Replicator. It’s truly a very cool 3D printer- a huge leap from the
> Thing-o-Matic, and equipped with all sorts of wonderful features, etc.
>
>
> <Start Reading Here>
>
>
>
> I just would like to inquire about the term ‘replicator’. I personally think
> that it’s wonderful that this term is being further applied to 3D printing.
>
>
>
> I am hoping that the term ‘replicator’ is shared across all relevant 3D
> printers and not just one. An obvious example is RepRap, which stands for
> Self Replication/Rapid Prototyping. RepRap, of course, are designs on which
> MakerBot’s were based.
>
>
>
> Please use the term for the good that it has brought all of us."
>
>
> What does everyone think?
>
> --
> Elijah Louis Spenser Post
> Mechanic (San Francisco Bike Kitchen)
> Participant (NoiseRep at Noisebridge)
>
>
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