7 ms·

Oracle sends legal notice to rename company over 'JavaScript' trademark

35 points by tafath 3y ago

rmason 3y ago
This is corporate overreach. They're suing a little guy to set a precedent. But this is the first time that I recall in the tech world a trademark holder is trying to extend their reach to a common nickname. JS could stand for many things.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- nichch 3y ago
  The full name of the company seems to be “Rust for Javascript Developers Ltd” Disclaimer: I hate Oracle
  - tough 3y ago
    RustScript LLC sounds better
- UncleEntity 3y ago
  > They're suing a little guy to set a precedent. Yes, the precedent that they actively defend their trademark. If they don’t and someone challenges it they will most likely lose it and then it’s out with the Kleenex.
  - realusername 3y ago
    They lost it already, they just are unaware of it. Javascript is a common word now.
solarkraft 3y ago
They should also prepare to be sued by the Rust foundation ...
- pabs3 3y ago
  A post about the new Rust trademark policy: https://lwn.net/Articles/928739/ https://lwn.net/Articles/928739/
TechBro8615 3y ago
Is this parody? Surely Oracle cannot start enforcing its trademark after 20 years of ignoring it. EDIT: Apparently it's a legit trademark (I searched for it and it's active). Here's a recent post about it from Ryan Dahl: https://tinyclouds.org/trademark https://tinyclouds.org/trademark
- poizan42 3y ago
  You need to actively defend a trademark to keep it protected. Formally registering it is neither sufficient nor necessary. Also as someone pointed out on Twitter it's probably not even in the right category to protect against the use in educational material. Also even if it were it's probably nominative fair use anyways.
  - petercooper 3y ago
    I broadly think you are right, but there's an added layer of complexity here: UK company naming law. You can't even use words like "British" or "Royal" in your company name without meeting various conditions, so using anyone else's trademark is definitely out (and it's very easy for said holder to object without being subject to having their use of the trademark interrogated).
cutler 3y ago
I would imagine this could be challenged. They are merely referring to Javascript in their title not appropriating the trademark itself.
yarg 3y ago
There's no possibility of confusion here, Oracle's not protecting anything.
1letterunixname 3y ago
They won't because they're greedy. They'll defend it to avoid genericide. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/genericide https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/genericide
deleted 3y ago
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35 points by tafath 3y ago

This is corporate overreach. They're suing a little guy to set a precedent. But this is the first time that I recall in the tech world a trademark holder is trying to extend their reach to a common nickname. JS could stand for many things.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
nichch 3y ago
The full name of the company seems to be “Rust for Javascript Developers Ltd” Disclaimer: I hate Oracle
- tough 3y ago
  RustScript LLC sounds better
UncleEntity 3y ago
> They're suing a little guy to set a precedent. Yes, the precedent that they actively defend their trademark. If they don’t and someone challenges it they will most likely lose it and then it’s out with the Kleenex.
- realusername 3y ago
  They lost it already, they just are unaware of it. Javascript is a common word now.

solarkraft 3y ago

They should also prepare to be sued by the Rust foundation ...

pabs3 3y ago
A post about the new Rust trademark policy: https://lwn.net/Articles/928739/ https://lwn.net/Articles/928739/

TechBro8615 3y ago

Is this parody? Surely Oracle cannot start enforcing its trademark after 20 years of ignoring it. EDIT: Apparently it's a legit trademark (I searched for it and it's active). Here's a recent post about it from Ryan Dahl: https://tinyclouds.org/trademark https://tinyclouds.org/trademark

poizan42 3y ago
You need to actively defend a trademark to keep it protected. Formally registering it is neither sufficient nor necessary. Also as someone pointed out on Twitter it's probably not even in the right category to protect against the use in educational material. Also even if it were it's probably nominative fair use anyways.
- petercooper 3y ago
  I broadly think you are right, but there's an added layer of complexity here: UK company naming law. You can't even use words like "British" or "Royal" in your company name without meeting various conditions, so using anyone else's trademark is definitely out (and it's very easy for said holder to object without being subject to having their use of the trademark interrogated).

cutler 3y ago

I would imagine this could be challenged. They are merely referring to Javascript in their title not appropriating the trademark itself.

yarg 3y ago

There's no possibility of confusion here, Oracle's not protecting anything.

1letterunixname 3y ago

They won't because they're greedy. They'll defend it to avoid genericide. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/genericide https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/genericide

deleted 3y ago

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