View Single Post
  #3   Report Post  
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Charles Williams
 
Posts: n/a
Default Use of Excel as part of a new product name

AFAIK Excel is not yet a Microsoft Trademark, although I believe the Excel
logos are copyright and/or protected.

I am not an intellectual property lawyer, but my understanding is that its
OK unless the Product/service can be seen as competing with, replacing part
of, pretending to be, or looking like Microsoft Excel (passing-off)

If you are building on top of Excel and make it clear that your
product/service has Microsoft Excel as a prerequisite and its OK on the
passing-off tests then you should be alright.

If in doubt you should get an opinion from an IP lawyer familiar with the
geographies you plan to operate in.

Charles
______________________
Decision Models
FastExcel 2.1 now available
www.DecisionModels.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi,

Is it legal to use the word Excel as part of the name of a new
product/service building on top of Microsoft Excel? E.g.
www.superexcel.com

Thanks for your help!
Reto