Trademark symbol

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Have you used or have you seen the trademark symbol (the little TM) used in a story?

I have something that is a trademarked name, and I'm wondering if I should use it or not.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

No. But make sure you use it properly (not all punch is Kool-Aid and not all SUVs are Jeeps).

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Indeed. Fortunately, this isn't one of those well known products so there isn't a generic term. It's a ****in' contest ... I better stop before I go on a profanity-laced tirade about ... I'm just gonna stop.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Indeed. Fortunately, this isn't one of those well known products so there isn't a generic term. It's a ****in' contest ... I better stop before I go on a profanity-laced tirade about ... I'm just gonna stop.

I spy something business profiley ...

 

[sportsed]

Doing a story on the NBA Finals? Because that's trademarked. Same for Super Bowl and World Series. In fact, a lot of things in sports are trademarked, including virtually every professional sports team. Kind of goes with the territory in today's business world.

I'd advise leaving off the trademark symbol, unless it's really germane to the context of the story. Otherwise you'll find yourself affixing little TMs on everything.

 

[JR]

No. But make sure you use it properly (not all punch is Kool-Aid and not all SUVs are Jeeps).

Yeah, companies like Xerox, Hoover and Kleenex are always on the prowl for their trademarks being used as the term for a generic product.

 

[writing irish]

The makers of SPAM had an unintentionally funny ad in the Columbia Journalism Review recently instructing journos on proper use of their product's name.

 

[imjustagirl]

No. But make sure you use it properly (not all punch is Kool-Aid and not all SUVs are Jeeps).

Yeah, companies like Xerox, Hoover and Kleenex are always on the prowl for their trademarks being used as the term for a generic product.

Hoover? Really? I've never heard anyone refer to a vaccuum as a Hoover.

 

[writing irish]

The Brits say "hoovering" for vacuuming.

 

[Steak Snabler]

When I was at the college paper, one of our feature writers made a reference to a "velcro wall" at one of those traveling fitness shows, and we got a nasty letter from the makers of Velcro informing to either capitalize it or use the term "hook and loop fastening device."

 

[TwoGloves]

No. But make sure you use it properly (not all punch is Kool-Aid and not all SUVs are Jeeps).

Yeah, companies like Xerox, Hoover and Kleenex are always on the prowl for their trademarks being used as the term for a generic product.

What about Hummer?

 

[Starman]

I'm gonna xerox this thread, seal the envelopes with scotch tape, fedex it to everybody I know, then kick back and have a coke.

 

[reformedhack]

You're never legally required to use the trademark symbol in an editorial/news context. As someone else said, just capitalize as you would any proper noun. (By the way, no, you don't have to capitalize every letter, a la SPAM or USA TODAY, regardless of what the product does with its own name.)

If you are writing promotional copy -- I think you said it was for a contest -- that's a gray area. If you're doing a news story about a contest your paper is sponsoring, no, you don't need the TM symbol or a circled-R (registered trademark) or an SM (service mark) or a circled-C (copyright) or anything else some corporation may insist upon. But if you're writing something for a marketing-driven section -- you know, with different fonts for headlines and body copy to distinguish it from editorial space -- then, well, you might. Doesn't mean I'd stick one in there unless someone told me to.

Good luck.

 

[reformedhack]

What about Hummer?

Depends who gave you one. Are we talking about a car dealer?

 

[SixToe]

I got a letter from the Velcro people and from the Ziplock people.

I replied to both by saying they never would have to ever worry again about the name being incorrect in our newspaper because I never would use their proper name again.

From then on, I have used "resealable bag" or "hook and loop fastener."

 

[Football_Bat]

Football_Bat™

Hey, I like it. Somebody get the trademark office on the phone.

 

[Write-brained]

Once in my younger days I received an angry letter from Velcro for including the word in lowercase. At the time I had no idea.

 

[crusoes]

realtors get snippy about caps, too.

 

[MacDaddy]

realtors get snippy about caps, too.

And competition, too.

 

[Football_Bat]

realtors get snippy about caps, too.

Which is why Hoops McCann will always be a renter.