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digitalmars.D - DBC TM

reply Lurker <lurker mailinator.com> writes:
"Design by Contract is a registered trademark[1] of Interactive Software
Engineering, Inc. in the United States"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_by_contract

Does Digital Mars has permission for ISE to use the DBC trademark? This is not
an attack to the D language but I was just curious if Walter had spoken with
someone at ISE about it.
Jan 10 2009
next sibling parent "Nick Sabalausky" <a a.a> writes:
"Lurker" <lurker mailinator.com> wrote in message 
news:gkanpu$2l9f$1 digitalmars.com...

 "Design by Contract is a registered trademark[1] of Interactive Software 
 Engineering, Inc. in the United States"

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_by_contract

 Does Digital Mars has permission for ISE to use the DBC trademark? This is 
 not an attack to the D language but I was just curious if Walter had 
 spoken with someone at ISE about it.


Meh, with intellectual property these days, you can't open your mouth or 
even think without stepping on someone's IP. I wouldn't be surprised if 
foreach and do...while are "owned" by someone. I already know "orange" is 
owned by a company, and "apple" is owned by two different companies.
Jan 10 2009
prev sibling next sibling parent bearophile <bearophileHUGS lycos.com> writes:
Lurker:

 "Design by Contract is a registered trademark[1] of Interactive Software
Engineering, Inc. in the United States"
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_by_contract
 Does Digital Mars has permission for ISE to use the DBC trademark? This is not
an attack to the D language but I was just curious if Walter had spoken with
someone at ISE about it.


Just changing the name may solve the problem.

Bye,
bearophile
Jan 10 2009
prev sibling next sibling parent reply "Nick Sabalausky" <a a.a> writes:
"Lurker" <lurker mailinator.com> wrote in message 
news:gkanpu$2l9f$1 digitalmars.com...

 "Design by Contract is a registered trademark[1] of Interactive Software 
 Engineering, Inc. in the United States"

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_by_contract

 Does Digital Mars has permission for ISE to use the DBC trademark? This is 
 not an attack to the D language but I was just curious if Walter had 
 spoken with someone at ISE about it.


According to that page the term was coined in 1988, but they never applied 
for a trademark on it until 2003. I'm no lawyer, but how valid could that 
possibly be? Yea, it was granted in 2004, but at least in the US, being 
granted an IP doesn't mean it's actually valid - that's deliberately left 
for courts to decide (for better or worse). And yea, maybe they could sue, 
but again, at least in the US, you don't need a valid case in order to sue 
someone and make them settle, all you have to do is make up some BS and hire 
a lawyer (just look at the old Hasbro Interactive's practices.)
Jan 10 2009
parent Christopher Wright <dhasenan gmail.com> writes:
Nick Sabalausky wrote:

 "Lurker" <lurker mailinator.com> wrote in message 
 news:gkanpu$2l9f$1 digitalmars.com...

 "Design by Contract is a registered trademark[1] of Interactive Software 
 Engineering, Inc. in the United States"

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_by_contract

 Does Digital Mars has permission for ISE to use the DBC trademark? This is 
 not an attack to the D language but I was just curious if Walter had 
 spoken with someone at ISE about it.


 
 According to that page the term was coined in 1988, but they never applied 
 for a trademark on it until 2003. I'm no lawyer, but how valid could that 
 possibly be?


A trademark is valid if you treat it as a trademark and defend its use. 
It can be invalidated if it is too broad, or too obvious a term for what 
it is used for. It can also be invalidated if it *becomes* a generic 
term for what it is used for (xerox, bandaid, kleenex...).
Jan 10 2009
prev sibling parent Sean Kelly <sean invisibleduck.org> writes:
Lurker wrote:

 "Design by Contract is a registered trademark[1] of Interactive Software
Engineering, Inc. in the United States"
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_by_contract
 
 Does Digital Mars has permission for ISE to use the DBC trademark? This is not
an attack to the D language but I was just curious if Walter had spoken with
someone at ISE about it.


That's why D uses the term "contract programming" instead.  Though 
personally, I think ISE shot themselves in the foot by trademarking this 
term, since it's discouraged people actually writing about or using the 
technique.


Sean
Jan 10 2009