Oracle sends legal notice to rename company over 'JavaScript' trademark | Hacker News Reader

Oracle sends legal notice to rename company over 'JavaScript' trademark

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35 pointstafath13 comments

Is this parody? Surely Oracle cannot start enforcing its trademark after 20 years of ignoring it.

EDIT: Apparently it's a legit trademark (I searched for it and it's active). Here's a recent post about it from Ryan Dahl: https://tinyclouds.org/trademark

You need to actively defend a trademark to keep it protected. Formally registering it is neither sufficient nor necessary.

Also as someone pointed out on Twitter it's probably not even in the right category to protect against the use in educational material. Also even if it were it's probably nominative fair use anyways.

I broadly think you are right, but there's an added layer of complexity here: UK company naming law. You can't even use words like "British" or "Royal" in your company name without meeting various conditions, so using anyone else's trademark is definitely out (and it's very easy for said holder to object without being subject to having their use of the trademark interrogated).

They should also prepare to be sued by the Rust foundation ...

A post about the new Rust trademark policy:

https://lwn.net/Articles/928739/

This is corporate overreach. They're suing a little guy to set a precedent. But this is the first time that I recall in the tech world a trademark holder is trying to extend their reach to a common nickname. JS could stand for many things.

The full name of the company seems to be “Rust for Javascript Developers Ltd”

Disclaimer: I hate Oracle

RustScript LLC sounds better

> They're suing a little guy to set a precedent.

Yes, the precedent that they actively defend their trademark.

If they don’t and someone challenges it they will most likely lose it and then it’s out with the Kleenex.

They lost it already, they just are unaware of it. Javascript is a common word now.

I would imagine this could be challenged. They are merely referring to Javascript in their title not appropriating the trademark itself.

There's no possibility of confusion here, Oracle's not protecting anything.

They won't because they're greedy.

They'll defend it to avoid genericide.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/genericide

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