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K-Thom · 08-04-2009, 10:11 AM

I've been waiting for January 2007 to finally lay my hands on Howard's novels and translate them into German.
Just to find out that in January 2007 a Norwegian company (which held the copyright to his work until December 2006) registered every main character, most important book titles and the name of Robert E. Howard himself as a trademark.
At least those which weren't already trademarked or in use by the Conan Properties International.

So this is an actual business practise. Of course I think you'll have it much more easier to claim the trademark to a public domain work if you were the copyright holder of that work. Just an elegant way to lenghten your protectice rights for quite a while ...

08-04-2009, 10:11 AM	#12
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	I've been waiting for January 2007 to finally lay my hands on Howard's novels and translate them into German. Just to find out that in January 2007 a Norwegian company (which held the copyright to his work until December 2006) registered every main character, most important book titles and the name of Robert E. Howard himself as a trademark. At least those which weren't already trademarked or in use by the Conan Properties International. So this is an actual business practise. Of course I think you'll have it much more easier to claim the trademark to a public domain work if you were the copyright holder of that work. Just an elegant way to lenghten your protectice rights for quite a while ...