[freegeek-startup] Questions regarding TN startup

[John Sechrest]

Rather than thinking about the legal issues about the name,
you may find that the Marketing collision between freecycle and
computerfreecycle makes for a problem all of it's own.

if Geek* does not working for you on one side, then for the same
type of reason *freecycle won't work for you.



On 10/21/06, Shawn Campbell <obe1968 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Scott;
>
> I appreciate your concerns and comments, and no freecycle does not know
> who we are or what we are about as of yet. However, unless someone has
> actually trademarked computer freecycle, I think that we may be ok. We will
> talk with an attorney about these matters.
>
> It is kind of like the whole patent thing in that is you change a certain
> percentage of someone's design and market your own, it can be legal.
>
> Here in the deep south there was concern of directly relating the word
> "geek" into everyday usage. Many middle age folks think that a geek might be
> someone who is perverted. We have not filed the official business paperwork
> as of yet, and have other names we can use if we need to. I would hope that
> freecycle see what we are doing is technology related and does not compete
> with what they are trying to do, instead it could coincide with what they
> do. As a mater of fact we have actually spoken with out local chapter and
> have done some work with them already. I am afraid that if we contact
> freecycle ahead of time that they may attempt to block us, but again we feel
> the name is not a close enough resemblance to what we are all trying to do,
> and that is save the environemnt and recycle and reuse.
>
> Thanks again for the feedback....
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Shawn M. Campbell
>
> *Scott Merrill <skippy at skippy.net>* wrote:
>
> Shawn Campbell wrote:
> > Well, we have finally made some great progress in the TN start-up,
> > however a question has arisen that I please need some clarification to.
> > We have voted on a new name, it has free geek in it, and we will still
> > be following FOSS guidelines, but can we still use free geek in the name
> > such as this:
> >
> > Computer FreeCycle – Educating The Community. A FreeGeek Organization
>
> Are you folks aware of the "FreeCycle" movement?
> http://freecycle.org/
> You might want to contact them, if you haven't, to make sure you're not
> runnning afoul of any trademarks they have. Your chosen name is a more
> specific version of their name. I know that folks do dispose of PCs via
> FreeCycle, so there does exist a real possibility of confusion.
>
> There already exists FreeCycle groups in TN:
> http://freecycle.org/display.php?region=US%20Southern#Tennessee
>
> > For example: We would be the first TN start-up and then assist in
> > helping start and promote other free geek organizations in the state
> > (Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities, etc.) This covers most of
> > the major metropolitian areas in our state and key rural areas as well.
>
> You've developed a pretty grand plan; but I'm curious what your Board's
> justification is for basically recreating the structure already being
> created by FG/PDX?
>
> > There were a few reason the people elected to the board were concerened
> > with putting the free geek up front, as well as using the state name
> > "limiting" us to other possible opportunities.
>
> Well, if it helps at all, I can tell you that so far in Columbus, OH,
> the name "FreeGeek" has been pretty popular. It's easy to remember, and
> the folks from the community with which we interact seem to enjoy it.
> It's not seen as disparaging or self-deprecating at all.
>
> Good luck!
>
> --
> skippy at skippy.net | http://skippy.net/
>
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-- 
John Sechrest          .
Corvallis Benton        .
    Chamber Coalition      .
       420 NW 2nd                   .
              (541) 757-1505              . sechrest at corvallisedp.com
                                                                      .

             .
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