In article ,
Ron Natalie wrote:

"Kevin McCue" wrote in message
...
Jim-

Better be careful using that "S" word. Hormel is now vigorously
defending its trademark in the email world.

Hormel has no problem (at least they claim they don't) with people using
SPAM as a term to describe email. What they are protecting is anybody
attempting to use the SPAM trademark to any other commercial advantage
(specifically a SPAM-email eliminator with SPAM in the name).



It's more complicated -- the folks getting sued apparently used an image
of the Hormel can in their advertising.

There are _lots_ of *registered* trademarks using the word 'spam' -- many
of which are related to the e-mail 'problem' -- that are _not_ owned by
Hormel.

A 'search' on the U.S. Govt trademark office website shows over SIXTY
different trademarks using the word SPAM. 12 of them are registered by
Hormel.

The folks getting sued are one of the _newest_ registrants in that list..