Southwire

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steve66 said:
So how was it resolved? Can I type Romex, or not?? Will the forum automatically delete the word, or put the "r" on the end?
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My basic understanding is Mike Holt has given Southwire permission to become a forum member and state, ?ROMEX is a registered trademark of Southwire Company, we ask that you please begin using the ? after ROMEX? and we won't ban them for "advertising."
 
renosteinke said:
I can't say I blame Southwire for trying to protect their trademark. Xerox has tilted at the same windmill for years.
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But think how much better Xerox would be if their name were still synonymous with making copies. Now everybody just says "make a copy" instead of "Xerox this". Seems stupid to me to want to give up that name recognition.
 
rbalex said:
My basic understanding is Mike Holt has given Southwire permission to become a forum member and state, ?ROMEX is a registered trademark of Southwire Company, we ask that you please begin using the ? after ROMEX? and we won't ban them for "advertising."
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And they would only have to say it once. We all get along here and rarely argue over anything.:angel: :D
 
Too much work to type in an “R" after the name. I say go with the ****, or just say NM cable—which they suggested we do on a site I moderate.
As a business owner, they just lost respect from me:thumbsdown:
 
"Monster Cable" was going around doing this to all sorts of comanpies using Monster in their name. They got so much bad publicity they backed off.

Monster Mini Golf

In 2006 Monster Cable brought suit against Monster Mini Golf, a company selling franchise Mini Golf locations throughout the US. After legal battles and a lengthy dispute, the owners of Monster Mini Golf launched a grassroots campaign against Monster Cable on the Internet. After receiving more than 200 complaints from the public, Monster Cable dropped the lawsuit and agreed to pay up to $200,000 of Monster Mini Golf's legal fees.[21] After the settlement Monster Cable CEO Noel Lee and Monster Mini Golf founder Christina Vitagliano filmed a video interview discussing the dispute and resolution.[22]
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mivey said:
And they would only have to say it once. We all get along here and rarely argue over anything.:angel: :D
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Exactly?LOL!! As if there powerful word will reach the masses.
Goodness!!!
May as well give them a title bar for each post!!
 
I was running some **** man that stuff is hard to thread.
Formica, thats hot, eat more kale,etc.
 
By direct reference, ??? or not, the forums advertize their product routinely. If they are genuinely concerned, they need to go after distributers, not the forums. It?s like ordering Coke? at a restaurant and being told they carry Pepsi?. When a DIYer goes to a distributer and asks for ?the product,? you know they will be given whatever NMB that?s on the shelf and told it?s ?the product,? whatever brand it is.
 
In all fairness, it should be pointed out that Southwire has only requested the proper use of their trademarks. I have seen nothing more than that, no threats to sue....anything.

Also, the real Romex? is good stuff.

I think that the convention has been set that when we say 'romex', (small r) we mean NMS. If we say 'real Romex', (capital R), we mean Southwire's product. Having to distinguish between 'romex' and (real) Romex? sets the real thing apart from the generic and implies superiority on the real thing's part.

Southwire's asking to further distinguish the real thing from the generic is sensible. They even said 'please'.

FWIW, the alt trick don't work on this computer. I had to cut and paste the 'r thingy'.

Maybe Southwire should follow Coca-Cola(r)'s lead and advertise Romex(r) as 'REAL Romex(r)' Accept No Substitute'.
 
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How about we just call it by a slang trade name like" rope" , I don't need to give any free advertising to anyone who then objects to it's name popularity!
 
K8MHZ said:
In all fairness, it should be pointed out that Southwire has only requested the proper use of their trademarks. I have seen nothing more than that, no threats to sue....anything.

Also, the real Romex? is good stuff.

I think that the convention has been set that when we say 'romex', (small r) we mean NMS. If we say 'real Romex', (capital R), we mean Southwire's product. Having to distinguish between 'romex' and (real) Romex? sets the real thing apart from the generic and implies superiority on the real thing's part.

Southwire's asking to further distinguish the real thing from the generic is sensible. They even said 'please'.

FWIW, the alt trick don't work on this computer. I had to cut and paste the 'r thingy'.

Maybe Southwire should follow Coca-Cola(r)'s lead and advertise Romex(r) as 'REAL Romex(r)' Accept No Substitute'.
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In all fairness, a lawsuit would be a waste of their money, and ours?seeing that the price of wire would have to go up to cover the cost of high priced attorneys. They don?t have a chance in water with this!!
 
I believe Ideal has the trademark for "Wirenut" all others - even ideals other lines are technically either called by their product name or just wire connectors.

How many of you have "Klien's" in your tool pouch that are not made by Klien?

How much "Greenfield" that is installed actually "Greenfield"

How much "Carflex" that is installed actually "Carflex"

How many of you have Sawzall's or Hole Hawg's not made by Milwaukee?

I can't think of any others right now but I know there are hundreds of things just related to this trade that are often called by a popular brand name and not a generic name.
 
All of this because someone wants to follow the law.


http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/metaschool/fisher/domain/tm.htm

"Trademark rights can also be lost through genericity. Sometimes, trademarks that are originally distinctive can become generic over time, thereby losing its trademark protectionKellogg Co. v. National Biscuit Co., 305 U.S. 111 (1938). A word will be considered generic when, in the minds of a substantial majority of the public, the word denotes a broad genus or type of product and not a specific source or manufacturer. So, for example, the term "thermos" has become a generic term and is no longer entitled to trademark protection. Although it once denoted a specific manufacturer, the term now stands for the general type of product. Similarly, both "aspirin" and "cellophane" have been held to be generic. Bayer Co. v. United Drug Co., 272 F.505 (S.D.N.Y. 1921). In deciding whether a term is generic, courts will often look to dictionary definitions, the use of the term in newspapers and magazines, and any evidence of attempts by the trademark owner to police its mark." [my emphasis]
 
kwired said:
I believe Ideal has the trademark for "Wirenut" all others - even ideals other lines are technically either called by their product name or just wire connectors.

How many of you have "Klien's" in your tool pouch that are not made by Klien?

How much "Greenfield" that is installed actually "Greenfield"

How much "Carflex" that is installed actually "Carflex"

How many of you have Sawzall's or Hole Hawg's not made by Milwaukee?

I can't think of any others right now but I know there are hundreds of things just related to this trade that are often called by a popular brand name and not a generic name.
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darn , I had those at the tip of my toung when I was submitting my post but I just could not get past the cob-webs of my brain. Those are good ones. I think that although the tramark laws view things differently I see a benifit to allowing the name to be used in a generic fashion. Look at Xerox who even talks Xerox anymore. If they left things alone and allowed Xerox to be used in reference but not allowing another product to carry the name Xerox would be more prevelent than it is currently. :jawdrop:



EEEKS:eek:hmy:
 
i remember buying some NM and on the package it said "real has anyone eles seen these
i guess we could call it romax as someone from hispanic decent might be offended by the mex in the work
 
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