The PASCAZI Retaliation, fighting opportunists worldwide and why we applied for

[Mt.Gox Support]

I may sound like a broken record here, but we are working on this and it takes time... We really would love that things have moved quicker even in France (Please read the press release and you will understand why in France it is taking time).

This said, we will get back to you soon on this matter regardless of the outcome.

Cheers

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[1714835746]

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[Advocat]

Actually, I think the best outcome would be if mtgox applied for and was rejected the trademark.  That would establish a clear ruling in the court systems that bitcoin cannot be trademarked and is free for anyone to use.  I would hope that mtgox would recognize that this is the best possible outcome and would be supportive of efforts to oppose the trademark.

The mark in class 36 is already registered in Portugal. Already registered to other than MtGox. And a German firm filed before MtGox for a Community Mark (27 countries), in the EU, in a number of classes. Your proposed outcome has been mooted already.

[Advocat]

I may sound like a broken record here, but we are working on this and it takes time... We really would love that things have moved quicker even in France (Please read the press release and you will understand why in France it is taking time).

This said, we will get back to you soon on this matter regardless of the outcome.

Cheers

Why do you all refer only to Pascazi http://www.pascazilaw.com in your release when the Portugal mark has been registered already for many months, and the German firm applied for a Community Mark (27 Countries) before you, has priority over you, and has opposed your application? You all playing some sort of game? Looking to prod the US lawyer into a lawsuit? I smell a big Rat.

[Steve]

Has anyone else filed for trademark in the US?  At this point, I think that would be a good idea.

[Bitcoin Oz]

The trademarks should be handed over to a non profit bitcoin foundation I have said all along.

[MagicalTux]

The trademarks should be handed over to a non profit bitcoin foundation I have said all along.

We never said it was our plan to keep the trademarks. Just wait a bit more for updates.

[wareen]

The bad news is that a large of majority of the Bitcoin Community do not trust MtGox anymore than they do Pascazi.

Sorry, but that is just not true. Even if some people might have their reservations against Mt. Gox, I can't see how anyone could put them on the same level as Pascazi, let alone a "large majority".

I for one am very happy that Mt. Gox is pursuing this, as I highly doubt that anybody else from the community (even those who complain now) would actually do something in that direction.

[memvola]

I have little doubt you want the Trademark rights them for the very same reason Pascazi wants them, profit.

In this case, I think profit comes from the good publicity MtGox has been making by these undertakings. Even better if the rights are transferred to a non-profit.

[memvola]

I have little doubt you want the Trademark rights them for the very same reason Pascazi wants them, profit.

In this case, I think profit comes from the good publicity MtGox has been making by these undertakings. Even better if the rights are transferred to a non-profit.

You're stone crazy if you think that Gox will simply give a way a valuable asset like Trademark after fighting so hard for it and spending money.

Well, it's a bet. I know exactly nothing about the situation, but it just makes sense for them to bet on publicity. Besides, I've always trusted MagicalTux's good intentions.

[MagicalTux]

It's not MagicalTux's decision anymore, he doesn't have final say.

How so?

[giszmo]

Ok guys why are you sooo excited about a name. "Raider" is called "Twix" now here in Germany, so what? This rebrand gave it quite some media attention and if we rebrand to TwixCoin, I'm 100% fine with that. No need to panic about a name!

Only problem would be to agree on a nice name and an organisation to register it for the good of bitcoin without having some stupid fraudsters TM it in the process again.

The battle for the name BitCoin might already be lost in many countries as Advocat said.

So I guess MtGox could do such a thing. Or TradeHill. Do a world wide registration for TwixCoin or any other nice name that is still available world wide. Do it secretly without any opposing lawyers and then give that name over to the EFF or whatever trusted entity that would take it. (And note down all the costs along the way for maybe you get compensations by the community. I heard some are very idealistic and welcoming to such a move.)

[BitcoinPorn]

I think Tux himself or Gox the company grabbing this is making just about as good as we are going to get out of a bad situation.

[Advocat]

Has anyone else filed for trademark in the US?  At this point, I think that would be a good idea.

US is a first to use system. Who exactly was first to use in the US? Not publish a paper but use in Interstate Commerce. And how exactly is that fact going to be proven?

[Advocat]

The trademarks should be handed over to a non profit bitcoin foundation I have said all along.

A not for profit may be taken over by the State or dissolved for numerous reasons. Bad idea.

Linus Torvalds (his foundation) has been handing out licenses on LINUX for about 15 years now. What is so hard and mysterious MtGox?

[Advocat]

I have little doubt you want the Trademark rights them for the very same reason Pascazi wants them, profit.

In this case, I think profit comes from the good publicity MtGox has been making by these undertakings. Even better if the rights are transferred to a non-profit.

You're stone cold crazy if you think that Gox will simply give a way a valuable asset like Trademark after fighting so hard for it and spending money.

Bravo! You said it. They ain't giving away nothing. They are in it for the money. Have no illusions. Good publicity is not profit; it leads to more profit.

[MagicalTux]

Linus Torvalds (his foundation) has been handing out licenses on LINUX for about 15 years now. What is so hard and mysterious MtGox?

Maybe we need to actually get the trademark on anything before we do something with those?

It'll take close to 6 months to get anything from that, which gives a lot of time before we can do anything at all (changing trademark owners while being in the application process is usually not a good thing).

The registration of trademark is the fruit of long talks with various members of the community. It's time consuming and funds consuming, but is required if we don't want to see things go bad. We are trying our best to help the Bitcoin world expand, and for this we need some stability and help merchants feel secure when they use the word "Bitcoin" on advertising material.


Our interest in this should be obvious enough. The more people can use Bitcoin freely, the more people will trade in and out on MtGox and other exchanges. Using the Bitcoin trademark for other purposes (forcing people using the word Bitcoin to buy a license) will most likely not result in any profit, either on short term (I don't think anyone here would be ready to use Bitcoin as a trademark) or long term (it's not a long term strategy either).
It doesn't make sense to use Bitcoin as a trademark to make money by enforcing it, but it certainly makes sense as a way to ensure everyone can adopt Bitcoin without having to worry.
Keeping the ownership of the trademark is not a requirement to achieve this goal, and we have a few more announcements that will make things easier to understand.

We are open to questions from anyone, and will make our best to ensure everyone fully understands our goal here. While MtGox has grown quite a bit and I don't have much time to post on the forums, we are still doing our best for Bitcoin and the community. I am actually quite surprised to see how some people who were initially friendly with us are now talking about MtGox like if we were some sort of "World Company™" with only profit in mind.

[Advocat]

MtGox's press release expressly refers to "filed for" marks. Those are not issued marks. Why use this term if you won't license "filed for" marks? It's your press release. It says what you want it to say! Of course your a world company. You filed for marks all over the world; have you not? Why file for a mark in Slovakia, for example, if not to tie up the Slovak market, and God knows how many other markets? As for your profits; show us all how little MtGox makes. Publish your 2010 tax returns. Post them here and on your site. Then if your profit is unimportant, donate it all, after tax, to the ICRC in Geneva, they do good works.

Boycott MtGox unless and until they issue free, perpetual, and worldwide licenses, on applied for, and registered Bitcoin marks! Do it for "the community". Do it now.

[sadpandatech]

Why do you all refer only to Pascazi http://www.pascazilaw.com in your release when the Portugal mark has been registered already for many months, and the German firm applied for a Community Mark (27 Countries) before you, has priority over you, and has opposed your application? You all playing some sort of game? Looking to prod the US lawyer into a lawsuit? I smell a big Rat.

   Because there is a HUGE fucking difference between legitimate orgs dealing with Bitcoins registering to protect themselves and Pascuzzy whose sole intention was to STEAL it.......


  And who the fuck are you anyhows? I hate people that hide behind a new name to 'make a point' on the interwebs....

[sadpandatech]

I think Tux himself or Gox the company grabbing this is making just about as good as we are going to get out of a bad situation.

  +1

[Advocat]

Why do you all refer only to Pascazi http://www.pascazilaw.com in your release when the Portugal mark has been registered already for many months, and the German firm applied for a Community Mark (27 Countries) before you, has priority over you, and has opposed your application? You all playing some sort of game? Looking to prod the US lawyer into a lawsuit? I smell a big Rat.

   Because there is a HUGE fucking difference between legitimate orgs dealing with Bitcoins registering to protect themselves and Pascuzzy whose sole intention was to STEAL it.......


  And who the fuck are you anyhows? I hate people that hide behind a new name to 'make a point' on the interwebs....

Well I feel better now knowing that you have ordained MtGox as worthy to obtain the Bitcoin trademark. How about Tradehill? CampBX? Or any one of the hundreds of Bitcoin entrepreneurs around the world?  Are they not worthy? Are they not legitimate? Are some more worthy than others? Are you worthy? If a sovereign government issues a trademark, is anyone stealing anything?  Maybe you should take Portugal to task for issuing its Bitcoin mark about 7 months ago. How dare they.  Maybe we all should just make a list of the possible legitimate parties, and then you can turn thumbs up or thumbs down as to who can own the mark? Well then it is settled. No need for all those pesky trademark offices, and lawyers and such; just sadpandatech at the head of the line with thumbs up or down. Why the cursing? Does it make you any smarter? Does it make for a more compelling post by you? Not. Do you really care who the poster is if he/she has something interesting to say? Or even if it isn't interesting; just say jerk and move on.