Using Trademarks in a major work? (1 Viewer)

[minushuman]

The last paragraph I just wrote in my short story talked about dualistic nature of sharing knowledge, and in talking about open source and public license I made a comparison which involved using the phrase "Microsoft's 'Windows' operating system and 'Office' word processing suite".

I remember my advisor teacher lady having a spit about me mentioning Merke Sharpe and Dohme the international pharmecutical company.

Can I use the word Microsoft? Do i have to add a footnote or a registered symbol or something?

Thanks a bunch. Fuck i'm streseed right now. 2500words to go + RS and Journal

 

[_Benji_]

No way, I'd say your fine, you're not writing it as something you've made up... you're making a reference to a real product/ etc.

I do it with brand names, and i can't see how they could possibly have a problem with it.

crap.... you have long nights ahead!! good luck!! (im still writing my R.S.... geez it's annoying)

 

[c_james]

haha you think that's bad - I use chatroom trancripts in mine, and the template is actually the mIRC chatbox screenshotted in Windows XP.

No, it's absolutely fine - you're not writing for profit; it's an educational piece and thus you've pretty much got free reign.

 

[nwatts]

Just because it's educational doesn't mean it is void of all copyright laws.

I'd just go to character map, pick out a '®', '©' or '™' and stick it next to 'Office', 'Microsoft' and 'Windows'.

 

[c_james]

Yeah, well unless Mr Gates ends up reading the '05 showcase (assuming he makes it in), I really don't see the need to clutter the work with TMs and Cs and whatnot.

I personally think it'd hamper the flow of the work to see these kinds of formalities, but that's just me.

 

[nwatts]

Yeah, well unless Mr Gates ends up reading the '05 showcase (assuming he makes it in), I really don't see the need to clutter the work with TMs and Cs and whatnot.

I personally think it'd hamper the flow of the work to see these kinds of formalities, but that's just me.

Fair enough. I wouldn't be too worried unless a teacher specifically 'told' me to whack them in.

 

[minushuman]

Good stuff. Thanks a bunch ay. I'm might actually do it because it serves to further my point now that i think about it. Meh i'll decide tomorrow. Thanks again.

I'm nearly at 6000words It takes me a bloody long time to write because i constantly revise and refine as i go, i find it hard to move on unless i'm happy with the previous sentence. Could never bring myself to just hammer out a first draft irrespective of quality like i was asked to do within a month of starting the course. But thats just me.