RE:8
Ethereum is trademark name only. (They were not awarded rights to the image.)
Serial Number - 86634529
Word Mark - ETHEREUM
Status688 - Notice Of Allowance - Issued
Status Date - 2016-05-17
Filing Date - 2015-05-19
As I understand it, prior usage would be excluded this from being enforced. I have several domains which are "ethereum" in name and registered on or around 2014-03-19. Being a full fourteen months beforehand, it is hard to think that the foundation has a legal right to have them seized.
Ethereum is named after the ether that is all around us. No one owns the atmosphere! The foundation must be huffing C4H10O if they think they can just take back permission of usage. If they want to fork for bailouts, then the burdon of rebranding should be on the foundation. They can call it "Ethereum: Enterprise Edition" while the community who supports the unmolested fork can use "Ethereum Classic" or simply "ethereum" without the capital E, because it is not propper anymore.
BTW: the enforcement of trademark usage is based on similar industry. Perhaps ETC files its own Trademark as providing the public a service. Like a p2p church, or some social organization. What are we really trying to do here? Code for the sake of measuring (like some idiot savant locked in his room)... or actually facilitate social change through technological support? Because (imho) dapps and social contracts are color TV in the radio age of the internet.
Speaking of support, the messageboard does not seem to be sending email confirmations. I am telling you b/c i got here from the main site. thnx