4 ms·

It's hard to have much sympathy when your app already has an identical name (and a very similar logo) to a mobile web browser launched four years earlier: http:

It's hard to have much sympathy when your app already has an identical name (and a very similar logo) to a mobile web browser launched four years earlier: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_(web_browser) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_(web_browser)

freehunter 12y ago
Fortunately, Bolt browser no longer exists and names, especially four letter common words, can't be reserved forever.
- grabeh 12y ago
  Technically they can. I could register whatever sequence of letters I want provided they can act as a unique identifier for me, and are not in themselves descriptive. If I register 'Bolt' for dog-walking services this is not descriptive and provided I pay my renewal fees I can protect the word forever, and take action against those whose use of it confuses users (for example 'Bolt' for dog food) or takes unfair advantage of the reputation in my mark. The presence of a word in a dictionary/its length has no bearing on its registrability as a trade mark.
  - freehunter 12y ago
    >provided I pay my renewal fees That's my point. There's a maximum lifespan; the life of the company. Since Bolt browser no longer exists, I doubt they would renew the trademark.
davb 12y ago
I think the difference here is that the Bolt web browser was discontinued in 2011 (according to the Wikipedia article you linked), whereas the OPs "Bolt" voice/SMS service is very much an active project.
renekooi 12y ago
Idunno, the web browser has been discontinued for 3 years now. It also seems that bolt.co and Instagram's Bolt are much more similar to each other (apps dedicated to person→person communication) than Bolt the browser is to either of them, so the risk of confusion is much smaller.
- untog 12y ago
  It also seems that bolt.co and Instagram's Bolt are much more similar to each other (apps dedicated to person→person communication) I disagree. A web browser is used for person to person communication too. All three are used for very, very different forms of it, though.
  - umberto 12y ago
    Trademark is about preventing confusion, not owning words. A browser is very different from an app voice/text app.
    - untog 12y ago
      My point was that the two Bolts barely compete with each other. One is for voice calls, the other is for quick picture sharing. I can't imagine many scenarios where you could use them interchangeably.
kevando 12y ago
It's also hard to sympathize over confusion around a 4 letter word that's ALREADY a word.

freehunter 12y ago

Fortunately, Bolt browser no longer exists and names, especially four letter common words, can't be reserved forever.

grabeh 12y ago
Technically they can. I could register whatever sequence of letters I want provided they can act as a unique identifier for me, and are not in themselves descriptive. If I register 'Bolt' for dog-walking services this is not descriptive and provided I pay my renewal fees I can protect the word forever, and take action against those whose use of it confuses users (for example 'Bolt' for dog food) or takes unfair advantage of the reputation in my mark. The presence of a word in a dictionary/its length has no bearing on its registrability as a trade mark.
- freehunter 12y ago
  >provided I pay my renewal fees That's my point. There's a maximum lifespan; the life of the company. Since Bolt browser no longer exists, I doubt they would renew the trademark.

davb 12y ago

I think the difference here is that the Bolt web browser was discontinued in 2011 (according to the Wikipedia article you linked), whereas the OPs "Bolt" voice/SMS service is very much an active project.

renekooi 12y ago

Idunno, the web browser has been discontinued for 3 years now. It also seems that bolt.co and Instagram's Bolt are much more similar to each other (apps dedicated to person→person communication) than Bolt the browser is to either of them, so the risk of confusion is much smaller.

untog 12y ago
It also seems that bolt.co and Instagram's Bolt are much more similar to each other (apps dedicated to person→person communication) I disagree. A web browser is used for person to person communication too. All three are used for very, very different forms of it, though.
- umberto 12y ago
  Trademark is about preventing confusion, not owning words. A browser is very different from an app voice/text app.
  - untog 12y ago
    My point was that the two Bolts barely compete with each other. One is for voice calls, the other is for quick picture sharing. I can't imagine many scenarios where you could use them interchangeably.

kevando 12y ago

It's also hard to sympathize over confusion around a 4 letter word that's ALREADY a word.