Meryl's Notes Blog

Palm Trademark
PalmOS users, how many of you use PalmLoyal.com? HappyPalm.com? PalmGuru.com? What are the chances you’ll remember their possible new URLs such as PalmOSLoyal? HappyPocket? or HandGuru? Not likely, eh? Not to worry, I made up those URLs, but if Palm gets its way these fan / informational sites will have to drop “Palm” from their names or add “OS” because PalmOS is open source. Thanks to Happy Palm’s Charles “mr_b” Brown and PalmLoyal’s Carl Brooks for spreading the news that Palm, Inc.’s lawyers are threatening to take legal action against Web sites that are violating its trademark usage rules.

I explained my stance on geek.com by saying it’s these Web sites that are giving Palm, Inc. free advertising, marketing, word-of-mouth, or whatever you call the spiel. Palm, Inc. is within its legal rights as Brooks said, “By law, Palm Inc. does own the trademark named ‘Palm’ and many more. They do have the right to exercise their right to protect their trademarks.” Whew, you would not believe how many trademarks Palm, Inc. owns. You can see the list along with more details in his article.

Trademarking is serious business. Companies like Kleenex, Xerox and Coca-Cola can stand to lose the rights to their trademarks if their brand is overused and practically becomes a word in our vocbulary. I admit I’m guilty of saying, “Do you need some Kleenex?” Technically, we should be saying “tissue, copy, and soda.” I remember reading and discussing the whole trademark issue and I wish I had a resource that further explains why companies are sensitive. It makes sense. However, I don’t think using “Pal*” (yes, I added the * in place of the m so they don’t sue me… OK, I’m getting carried away) in these fan sites is going to cause problems for Palm, Inc. since they’re spreading the news about its business and associated products. It’s beneficial to the company!

Palm, Inc. needs to review its stance enabling such Web sites use it without abusing Palm, Inc.’s rights to the trademark(s).

Articles:
SiliconValley
The Register
HappyPalm
PalmLoyal

Design Styles
Webreference, up to its usual high standards, delivered another informative issue of its Webreference Update Newsletter reviewing Curt Cloninger’s book Fresh Styles for New Designers. He covers ten new underground Web design styles and points out examples of each style. However, I disagree with his comment that avoiding bad usability has led to a generation of bland, copycat Web sites that are unexciting. He probably thinks this Web site is sterile and a real sleeper. I think clean and simple is a good style and brings more attention to content. This does not mean I think all sites should be this way. I get a kick out of amazing design that appropriately use Flash, CSS, and jazzy techniques. I’ve explored some of the URLs that Webreference included in the issue and was in awe. I’m sure Mr. Cloninger says a few things in his book that I would not agree with him, but it sounds like it’s worth a lookie-loo.

Hey, I found a gotcha on Curt’s Web site. 1950’s should be 1950s. Gotcha coming soon to a Gotcha near you.

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