Dragonturnip wrote:

I have a question. I made a project called Idea Storm, but that is already something to do with Dell computers. Will I get sued or something?

]
say [s
say [I love Scratchre[scratchblocks]
[/scratchblocks]
repeat ()
   [scratchblocwhen [scratchblocks]

when green flag clicked
end
[/scratchblocks]

lovescratch8 wrote:

I think that it's a bit of a bad Idea no afence or anything.

]
say [s
say [I love Scratchre[scratchblocks]
[/scratchblocks]
repeat ()
   [scratchblocwhen [scratchblocks]

when green flag clicked
end
[/scratchblocks]

spkshark wrote:
Would it still be okay to make a “fan” studio? E.g. a studio full of Harry Potter projects.

Lightnin wrote:

mozarty wrote:

The thing is, kids, which predominantly make up the Scratch website, do not and will not take the time to search up a trademark.

And this is at the core of the issue - should kids who are making Scratch studios be required to search a trademark database before choosing a general name? We really don't think so: There isn't a likelihood of confusion.

pikabrawler wrote:
Is it still legal for me to make Pokemon projects?

Lightnin wrote:

Recently the owner of the registered trademark for “Animation Hall of Fame” contacted us to request that we rename or remove a Scratch Studio titled “Animation Hall of Fame”. Apparently when one Googles “Animation Hall of Fame,” the link to their organization is first, but the results also include a link to a Scratch Studio with the same name.

We see the value of trademark law: We wouldn't want anyone else to be able to create a programming language called Scratch. That could lead to a lot of confusion, and wouldn't be fair. However, there are limits to how broadly trademark should be applied. For example, if someone created a skateboard called Scratch, I don't think we'd have much reason to complain (as long as they weren't using our logo, or claiming some kind of association or endorsement from us.)

But in this case, we don't feel that this trademark claim is reasonable or fair. According to the About page on their website, their “Animation Hall of Fame” is:

“To be located in the Central Florida area of the United States, the Animation Hall of Fame, Inc. complex will be an international interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of Animation from around the world. This state of the art high-tech complex and each of its venues will be designed to educate and entertain animation fans and non-fans alike from around the world.”
( http://animationhalloffame.org/about.html )

The Scratch studio formerly titled “Animation Hall of Fame” is, well, a Scratch studio: A webpage, created by a Scratcher, that shows projects made by kids who are learning to program animations with Scratch, a free programming tool created at MIT.

http://scratch.mit.edu/studios/346625/
(Check it out- there are some good Scratch animations in there!)

Is it really reasonable to demand that we rename this Scratch studio to avoid possible confusion between a multimillion dollar complex in Florida, and a webpage with some Scratch projects? We really don't think so. But because taking legal action to contest this would be very expensive and time consuming, we agreed to change the title of the studio formerly known as “Animation Hall of Fame” to: “Scratch Hall of Fame - Animation.” I guess this clarifies what should be pretty obvious: A webpage with some Scratch projects is not likely to be confused with a multimillion dollar museum.

getamac404 wrote:

Yea, remember what happened to a Pac-Man project?
Also, why “Scratch” and not “Scratch™”? Shouldn't Scratch be a trademark too? (and, I'm wondering if MIT is a trademark.)

andrewjcole wrote:

getamac404 wrote:

Yea, remember what happened to a Pac-Man project?
Also, why “Scratch” and not “Scratch™”? Shouldn't Scratch be a trademark too? (and, I'm wondering if MIT is a trademark.)

What happened to the Pac-Man project?