Second Life Forums Archive - Is SL a registered trademark?

SuezanneC Baskerville

Forums Rock!

Join date: 22 Dec 2003

Posts: 14,229

01-07-2006 16:20

"Second Life" is a trademark. Is it registered?

How about SL? can you trademark a two letter abbreviation?

_____________________

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So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them.

I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to

http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne

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http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03.

Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard,
Robin, and Ryan

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Amber Stonecutter

Bruxing Babe

Join date: 13 Sep 2005

Posts: 296

01-07-2006 16:52

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.3
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.4
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.9
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.11

It seems to be registered by Linden Lab in several formats with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Don't see SL though.

Note: And yes, it does seem "SL" could be trademarked, it is by some other companies.

Frank Lardner

Cultural Explorer

Join date: 30 Sep 2005

Posts: 409

Accessing the expired USPTO searches

01-07-2006 18:11

Unfortunately, those links are not static, they take you to the results of an "expired" session in TESS, the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System.

To use TESS to research trademark status on "Second Life" or any other text string, and find if it is registered or if an application for registration is in process:

Go to www.USPTO.gov
In the left column, find and click on "Search" under "Trademark"
In the resulting menu, click on "New User Search Form - Basic"
Enter the term in the "Search Term" box ... leave other defaults
Hit "Submit Query"

More advanced search paradigms, including Boolean and free-form, are options alternative to "Basic".

If you enter "Second Life" (with the quotes) you should get 12 items in the list.
The list will give you the serial number and the registration number if registered.
Click on the various entries to see details of that file record.

Some of them are "dead" or abandoned marks once owned by others.
Some are marks of others (e.g. furniture refinishing)

Linden Research has registrations on "Second Life" as a word mark
and also the Second Life hand-fingers-eye logo with words as a separate mark,
both in the fields of computers and entertainment and communication.

Linden Research has a separate pending application for registration for the logo and words in the fields of clothing (T-shirts, hats, etc.)

Sorry its complicated ... brought to you by the US Government.
It is powerful .... brought to you by the US Government.

_____________________

Frank Lardner

* Join the "Law Society of Second Life" -- dedicated to the objective study and discussion of SL ways of governance, contracting and dispute resolution. *
Group Forum at: this link.

Amber Stonecutter

Bruxing Babe

Join date: 13 Sep 2005

Posts: 296

01-08-2006 10:49

=3 Sorry about that, thank you for clarifying how use the search.

Merwan Marker

Booring...

Join date: 28 Jan 2004

Posts: 4,706

01-08-2006 11:09

From: SuezanneC Baskerville

"Second Life" is a trademark. Is it registered?

How about SL? can you trademark a two letter abbreviation?

No - but I am!

Merwan MarkerTM

_____________________

Don't Worry, Be Happy - Meher Baba

Frank Lardner

Cultural Explorer

Join date: 30 Sep 2005

Posts: 409

TM not always "registered"

01-18-2006 06:00

Originally Posted by SuezanneC Baskerville
"Second Life" is a trademark. Is it registered?

How about SL? can you trademark a two letter abbreviation?

From: Merwan Marker

No - but I am!

Merwan MarkerTM

Actually, Merwan, to register a trademark (in the US), you need to file some forms with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO.gov), let them make some examination and publish it for opposition, then they (maybe) issue a registration certificate suitable for framing. Process takes 9-12 months, even if the TM is sound, clean and unopposed. Most folks pay a lawyer to do it, figure several thousand dollars minimum.

Once registered, one can used the "r in a circle" symbol seen on most famous registered marks. For example, look for it (its faint but there) behind the word "Second" in the graphic Second Life uses at the top left of this forum page.

Anyone can claim a trademark, which it sounds like you've done. That provides some legal rights, as long as you use it to identify the source of goods or services, not just yourself as an individual. Registering it adds a lot of valuable procedural rights unavailable to an unregistered mark.

_____________________

Frank Lardner

* Join the "Law Society of Second Life" -- dedicated to the objective study and discussion of SL ways of governance, contracting and dispute resolution. *
Group Forum at: this link.

MadamG Zagato

means business

Join date: 17 Sep 2005

Posts: 1,402

01-18-2006 08:43

From: Frank Lardner

Actually, Merwan, to register a trademark (in the US), you need to file some forms with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO.gov), let them make some examination and publish it for opposition, then they (maybe) issue a registration certificate suitable for framing. Process takes 9-12 months, even if the TM is sound, clean and unopposed. Most folks pay a lawyer to do it, figure several thousand dollars minimum.

Once registered, one can used the "r in a circle" symbol seen on most famous registered marks. For example, look for it (its faint but there) behind the word "Second" in the graphic Second Life uses at the top left of this forum page.

Anyone can claim a trademark, which it sounds like you've done. That provides some legal rights, as long as you use it to identify the source of goods or services, not just yourself as an individual. Registering it adds a lot of valuable procedural rights unavailable to an unregistered mark.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Well said Frank!

Is SL a registered trademark?
SuezanneC Baskerville Forums Rock! Join date: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 14,229	01-07-2006 16:20 "Second Life" is a trademark. Is it registered? How about SL? can you trademark a two letter abbreviation? _____________________ - So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them. I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne - http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03. Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard, Robin, and Ryan -
Amber Stonecutter Bruxing Babe Join date: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 296	01-07-2006 16:52 http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.3 http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.4 http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.9 http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6sa3lv.2.11 It seems to be registered by Linden Lab in several formats with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Don't see SL though. Note: And yes, it does seem "SL" could be trademarked, it is by some other companies.
Frank Lardner Cultural Explorer Join date: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 409	Accessing the expired USPTO searches 01-07-2006 18:11 Unfortunately, those links are not static, they take you to the results of an "expired" session in TESS, the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System. To use TESS to research trademark status on "Second Life" or any other text string, and find if it is registered or if an application for registration is in process: Go to www.USPTO.gov In the left column, find and click on "Search" under "Trademark" In the resulting menu, click on "New User Search Form - Basic" Enter the term in the "Search Term" box ... leave other defaults Hit "Submit Query" More advanced search paradigms, including Boolean and free-form, are options alternative to "Basic". If you enter "Second Life" (with the quotes) you should get 12 items in the list. The list will give you the serial number and the registration number if registered. Click on the various entries to see details of that file record. Some of them are "dead" or abandoned marks once owned by others. Some are marks of others (e.g. furniture refinishing) Linden Research has registrations on "Second Life" as a word mark and also the Second Life hand-fingers-eye logo with words as a separate mark, both in the fields of computers and entertainment and communication. Linden Research has a separate pending application for registration for the logo and words in the fields of clothing (T-shirts, hats, etc.) Sorry its complicated ... brought to you by the US Government. It is powerful .... brought to you by the US Government. _____________________ Frank Lardner * Join the "Law Society of Second Life" -- dedicated to the objective study and discussion of SL ways of governance, contracting and dispute resolution. * Group Forum at: this link.
Amber Stonecutter Bruxing Babe Join date: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 296	01-08-2006 10:49 =3 Sorry about that, thank you for clarifying how use the search.
Merwan Marker Booring... Join date: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 4,706	01-08-2006 11:09 From: SuezanneC Baskerville "Second Life" is a trademark. Is it registered? How about SL? can you trademark a two letter abbreviation? No - but I am! Merwan MarkerTM _____________________ Don't Worry, Be Happy - Meher Baba
Frank Lardner Cultural Explorer Join date: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 409	TM not always "registered" 01-18-2006 06:00 Originally Posted by SuezanneC Baskerville "Second Life" is a trademark. Is it registered? How about SL? can you trademark a two letter abbreviation? From: Merwan Marker No - but I am! Merwan MarkerTM Actually, Merwan, to register a trademark (in the US), you need to file some forms with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO.gov), let them make some examination and publish it for opposition, then they (maybe) issue a registration certificate suitable for framing. Process takes 9-12 months, even if the TM is sound, clean and unopposed. Most folks pay a lawyer to do it, figure several thousand dollars minimum. Once registered, one can used the "r in a circle" symbol seen on most famous registered marks. For example, look for it (its faint but there) behind the word "Second" in the graphic Second Life uses at the top left of this forum page. Anyone can claim a trademark, which it sounds like you've done. That provides some legal rights, as long as you use it to identify the source of goods or services, not just yourself as an individual. Registering it adds a lot of valuable procedural rights unavailable to an unregistered mark. _____________________ Frank Lardner * Join the "Law Society of Second Life" -- dedicated to the objective study and discussion of SL ways of governance, contracting and dispute resolution. * Group Forum at: this link.
MadamG Zagato means business Join date: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 1,402	01-18-2006 08:43 From: Frank Lardner Actually, Merwan, to register a trademark (in the US), you need to file some forms with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO.gov), let them make some examination and publish it for opposition, then they (maybe) issue a registration certificate suitable for framing. Process takes 9-12 months, even if the TM is sound, clean and unopposed. Most folks pay a lawyer to do it, figure several thousand dollars minimum. Once registered, one can used the "r in a circle" symbol seen on most famous registered marks. For example, look for it (its faint but there) behind the word "Second" in the graphic Second Life uses at the top left of this forum page. Anyone can claim a trademark, which it sounds like you've done. That provides some legal rights, as long as you use it to identify the source of goods or services, not just yourself as an individual. Registering it adds a lot of valuable procedural rights unavailable to an unregistered mark. You took the words right out of my mouth. Well said Frank!

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Is SL a registered trademark?