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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnRTroy" data-source="post: 5079237" data-attributes="member: 2732">I guess I don't understand either, because what I am saying is that it is not wrong to combine words and make them a unique statement.  I'm saying this goes back almost 100 years.  And unlike copyright law, which was changed and extended over time, and patents, where things might have gotten crazy, this thing goes back to its inception.  John R. Troy Donkey Bong is not a valid trademark because you can't make a Trademark out of part of a living person's name without their permission (and for some reason until the widow of a President of the US dies), and that's not counting the rights of the estate, etc.  (And there are other John R. Troy's, so if one of them wants one, go ahead)Keep in mind Trademark is very narrow.  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It can only prevent the use in the specific instance of commercial products, or limited non-commercial use that might cause some specific confusion.  I can talk about Chef Boyardee but I can't put it on a can.  This is why Trademarks exist, to protect us.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The USPTO has many different segments.  In many cases the areas are narrow.  There could maybe 12 or more other Army Builders, as long as consumers wouldn't be confused.  Somebody could make a clay mold set that makes Army men and call it Army Builder.</li> </ul>Like I said, stuff like Coca Cola was a combination of two common words.  Doubling nouns, nouns with adjectives, etc., are all done.  To complain that it's "stupid" is kind of unfair, if you at least study trademarks.  It was enough to get put on the Principal Register.  Suggesting that somebody was engaging in shady, unethical, or "douche-y" behavior is a little disparaging.  And note that it's not just "six months", some trademarks take years to approve.  Google still doesn't have Federal Registration, for instance. I've got no problem with the complaints that Lone Wolf was over-zealous.  But saying "Army Builder" is a bad name is a little over the top.  There are hundreds of names like this--the reason they are allowed is because there are literally millions of trademarks--there's only so many permutations to the English language you can do.  Which is why such things are allowed.  (And part of a rule of branding is the shorter the brand name the better).</blockquote>

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