Mandrake the Magician

[Deja Q]

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5162456.html

A French court has ruled against Linux distributor MandrakeSoft in an intellectual-property dispute with United States-based Hearst Holdings and King Features Syndicate.

The decision could force the Paris-based software company to surrender its trademark and domain names and to pay nearly $90,000 (70,000 euros) in damages to the U.S. companies, holders of the rights to the comic strip character Mandrake the Magician. The comic strip marks its 70th anniversary this year.

So, has Mandrakesoft harmed Hearst Holdings and King Feature Syndicate?

It's obviously helped Hearst; I've never heard of them before. King Feature Syndicate always had lame cartoons anyway...

[Deja Q]

1. Here's a cool response on the zdnet forum:

http://zdnet.com.com/5208-1104-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=1831&messageID=38830&start=-1

LINUX IS LAWSUIT CITY, LINUX IS MUSLIM AND ATHEIST SUPPORT

LINUX SUPPORTS COMMUNISM, ATHEISTS AND MUSLIMS!



:wow:

[EstimatedProphet]

2. That shouldn't hold up in court after all

Mandrake is a very old term relating to a mythical plant. As such it is public domain, like suing someone four using the term goblin.

[Deja Q]

3. But if Corbis could get away with purchasing public domain pics...

(Corbis is owned by Bill Gates too)

Our system is highly corrupt. Not by Muslims, Atheists, and Linux fans but by rabid nominal Christians and republican special interests... (nominal = 'in name only')

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Well, if that's the case...

King Features should be able to prove that they have bought the rights to the word mandrake.
This would also mean that no one could use the word without permission, or paying a royalty.