Ask HN: Please provide feedback on Sponty | be hangoutable.

Re:Ask HN: Please provide feedback on Sponty | be hangoutable. by lionhearted on Thursday February 12, 2009 @10:39PM (#479386)

Toss a small (TM) on either Sponty, "be hangoutable", or both. TM means trademark - but anyone can use it whenever they're using new descriptive language that doesn't infringe on someone else's mark. You don't need to register anything - the (R) in a circle means Registered Trademark, and you need to register that.

Kellogg's has a registered trademark, they paid the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office), and had a search done to make sure it didn't infringe on anyone. They have a very strong legal standing if anyone comes after them:

http://www2.kelloggs.com/

But look at Google - they just use (TM)!

https://mail.google.com

TM adds a bit of credibility. Split test it if you're not convinced, but it shouldn't hurt, and makes you feel like a real company. I'd definitely throw the TM onto "be hangoutable", because that's a cool phrase, and I'd want to own that after coining it.

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Re:Ask HN: Please provide feedback on Sponty | be hangoutable. by marram on Thursday February 12, 2009 @11:00PM (#479404)

Thank you for the heads up. We've actually submitted the application. I will update the graphic.

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Re:Ask HN: Please provide feedback on Sponty | be hangoutable. by keltecp11 on Thursday February 12, 2009 @11:23PM (#479432)

You actually don't need a sign. It is yours by use (when you first publicly display it), the sign is optional.

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Re:Ask HN: Please provide feedback on Sponty | be hangoutable. by natch on Friday February 13, 2009 @03:10AM (#479609)

It is true that you don't need it (and the poster never said you need it, btw), but the sign does help add additional evidence in the event you need to show a court that you were taking steps to protect your mark.

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