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Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by rolux on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:14PM (#4189762)
(One of the authors here.) Good question. Does Pandora the radio have a global trademark for what is essentially a US-only product? Would such a trademark cover any type of online service, including a video archive platform? And if so, would it apply to a piece of software that is explicitly spelled pan-dot-do-slash-ra? IANAL, but I don't think so.
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by gamache on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:38PM (#4189869)
If the best name you can think of is already in use by a huge player in internet media, exposes you to legal attack, and will confuse potential users and customers, you need to keep thinking.
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by rolux on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:54PM (#4189952)
Our approach was: If the best name we can think of is a nine-letter URL, we got it.
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by edgeman27 on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:29PM (#4189826)
Don't risk it, get a lawyer. The last thing you want is to create a recognised brand only to have to change the name because you saved some money by not checking.
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by rolux on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:50PM (#4189933)
But what if we wanted to be recognized as the brand that is spelled pan.do/ra - which happens to be the URL of the product?

And what if getting recognized as the brand involved in a trademark conflict about the name of a Greek mythological figure is a risk we're totally willing to take?

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by pavlov on Monday July 02, 2012 @02:02PM (#4189997)
And what if getting recognized as the brand involved in a trademark conflict about the name of a Greek mythological figure is a risk we're totally willing to take?

That's some bravado. To make the case more poignant, you should also open an online shoe store at http://ni.ke

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by rolux on Monday July 02, 2012 @02:31PM (#4190166)
I'm beginning to think that the Ancient Greek should have sought better protection for their intellectual property:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_(mythology)

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by pavlov on Monday July 02, 2012 @03:18PM (#4190448)
My point exactly. "But, what about the Greeks!" doesn't carry much weight in a trademark lawsuit.
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by aggronn on Monday July 02, 2012 @02:13PM (#4190065)
He shouldn't get a lawyer--he should change the name. The gain for getting to name it pandora exists exclusively in his ego. A prudent person wouldn't hire a lawyer for the sake of his ego.
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by jtreminio on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:25PM (#4189805)
It sounds like you have no idea what the answers to any of those questions are.

You even have this on your page: "panˈdôrə"

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by rolux on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:37PM (#4189866)
My intention was to sound like I'm not too worried.

And you're right, we have "panˈdôrə" on our page - which is how you pronounce the name of Pandora, the figure from Greek mythology. Are you suggesting Pandora the radio would have a problem with that? Again, I don't think so.

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by bradleyland on Monday July 02, 2012 @02:03PM (#4190007)
I'd like to offer some slightly less snarky advice.

I was always the type of person to play it safe. I stayed far from the margins of error in the legal context. Then, a few years ago I partnered with some people who were significantly less averse to this sort of risk (legal). Two years later, I'm still litigating a legal battle of dubious basis at my own expense.

The lesson I learned is that the legal process is not merely something you go through to resolve disputes, but rather it is something that can be done too you. It is expensive, unnerving, and a huge distraction.

You never know when a legal battle is going to strike you like a bolt out of the blue, but you can certainly avoid standing in a field hoisting a metal pole during a thunder storm.

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by julien_c on Wednesday July 04, 2012 @05:03AM (#4198477)
Great comment. I was one of those less legal risk averse people, but one year into a dubious trademark battle I've changed my mind...
Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by bradleyland on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:44PM (#4189903)
> Are you suggesting Pandora the radio would have a problem with that?

Given that your product is also in the "entertainment media" space, and is named almost identically to a large, publically traded company, I suspect you'll soon find out.

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by rolux on Monday July 02, 2012 @02:10PM (#4190052)
I guess that one of the things we're trying to achieve with pan.do/ra is to produce cutting-edge software without the help of marketeers or lawyers. There is a long tradition of making software that way, and we're trying to follow it.

As a programmer, I'd prefer to find out about actual bugs, rather than worry about the hypothetical legal consequences of potential name collisions in the entertainment media space.

Still, thanks for the advice.

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by gamache on Monday July 02, 2012 @02:31PM (#4190163)
As a programmer, I'd prefer to find out about actual bugs, rather than worry about the hypothetical legal consequences of potential name collisions in the entertainment media space.

There is an actual bug here, but it's not in the code. Consider that using the Pandora name will impel you to spend more time thinking about legal issues, not less.

Re:Show HN: pan.do/ra - a free, open source platform for vid... by jmathai on Monday July 02, 2012 @01:59PM (#4189987)
You'll soon find out that the answer is "yes". As unfortunate as it may be if you're serious about this then I'd definitely 1) consider a different name or 2) get written confirmation that you're free to use it.

Actually, IANAL. Don't take my advice. Definitely check with a lawyer. The headaches today will be worth avoiding MUCH larger ones down the road.