Synthpopalooza #1 Posted February 22, 2014 Looks like the company masquerading as Atari these days is back at it again. A cease-and-desist letter has been sent to the owner of atari-forum.com demanding he surrender the domain name over copyright infringement. Geez louise. So we can't have domains with "Atari" in the name anymore, hmm? http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=26131 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrMaddog #2 Posted February 23, 2014 If only Atari SA actually gave a crap about ST computers like they do turning 2600 games into lousy Facebook garbage... 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IainGrimm #3 Posted February 23, 2014 Its disheartening to see things like this happen, they are prepared to pull the plug on a site primarily used by dedicated fans of their old systems, not forgetting all the resources and info there (and here for that matter) Surely they should be able to fight this in a court, the site has been around for years now, I reckon unless the people that are filing the complaint can realistically show why they would want the site name and that they are actually going to use it they shouldn't be able to get away with it. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andromeda Stardust #4 Posted February 23, 2014 atariage.com is next? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
high voltage #5 Posted February 24, 2014 (edited) Just call it Go.Atari, after a Japanese board game, after all that's what it is, a move in the game Go. Kristen Keller, sounds of German origin, NAZI BITCH Edited February 24, 2014 by high voltage 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gemintronic #6 Posted February 24, 2014 So, does AA have an understanding with these lovely people or are we next? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+RevEng #7 Posted February 24, 2014 They have an obligation to try and enforce their trademark where they see infringement, but I can't see how Kristen thinks that anyone is attempting to do trade with the mark in this case. She doesn't seem to understand that by targeting fans she's shooting the company in the foot. If it were my site, I'd first try to explain to her that no trade was going on with the mark. If protest continued, I'd change the forum domain to not include the mark and promptly setup a "modernatarisucks.com" or "infogramesatarisucks.com" site, with a factual explanation of the situation on the main page that included the communications with Atari. Allow others to post their stories of harassment, or how they feel the brand was diminished in the current owner's hands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gemintronic #8 Posted February 24, 2014 Has anyone taken to Twitter, Facebook, whatever to voice our displeasure? If they are just a brand image selling company their customers opinion directly effects their worth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albert #9 Posted February 24, 2014 Looks like there has been a positive resolution to this situation: http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=26137&p=247578#p247578 ..Al 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flashjazzcat #10 Posted February 24, 2014 Thankfully. The world hasn't gone completely mad, then. Great news. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gemintronic #11 Posted February 24, 2014 Looks like there has been a positive resolution to this situation: http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=26137&p=247578#p247578 ..Al Is there anything pro-active we can do to not be in this situation? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+FujiSkunk #12 Posted February 24, 2014 high voltage, may I humbly suggest you edit your post, given that this issue was resolved and the lawyer in question isn't actually trying to sink the Atari retro community? Is there anything pro-active we can do to not be in this situation? I'd say there is nothing to be done that Ms. Keller hasn't already done. Seems to me the best possible outcome was the one that happened. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gemintronic #13 Posted February 24, 2014 high voltage, may I humbly suggest you edit your post, given that this issue was resolved and the lawyer in question isn't actually trying to sink the Atari retro community? I'd say there is nothing to be done that Ms. Keller hasn't already done. Seems to me the best possible outcome was the one that happened. I guess so. Hopefully the scenario is the threat happy company they hired finds us, reports us to Ms. Keller and she gives them the go ahead to do squat. I was hoping she was already aware of Al and his great work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albert #14 Posted February 24, 2014 I guess so. Hopefully the scenario is the threat happy company they hired finds us, reports us to Ms. Keller and she gives them the go ahead to do squat. I was hoping she was already aware of Al and his great work. Yes, we've spoken in the past on various issues. ..Al 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rybags #15 Posted February 24, 2014 Send her a cheese-grater. Oh, hang on - that's Hellen Keller. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AtariLeaf #16 Posted February 24, 2014 Glad to know this is resolved and that Albert already seems to be on top of it as regards to any potential problems here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Synthpopalooza #17 Posted February 24, 2014 They have an obligation to try and enforce their trademark where they see infringement, but I can't see how Kristen thinks that anyone is attempting to do trade with the mark in this case. She doesn't seem to understand that by targeting fans she's shooting the company in the foot. If it were my site, I'd first try to explain to her that no trade was going on with the mark. If protest continued, I'd change the forum domain to not include the mark and promptly setup a "modernatarisucks.com" or "infogramesatarisucks.com" site, with a factual explanation of the situation on the main page that included the communications with Atari. Allow others to post their stories of harassment, or how they feel the brand was diminished in the current owner's hands. One of my friends has done this already: http://www.thisisnotatari.com ... for at least 2 years now, and no nasty e-mails from Kristen Keller yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albert #18 Posted February 24, 2014 One of my friends has done this already: http://www.thisisnotatari.com ... for at least 2 years now, and no nasty e-mails from Kristen Keller yet. There is no website at that address, and in fact, it is available for purchase. ..Al Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
high voltage #19 Posted February 24, 2014 (edited) high voltage, may I humbly suggest you edit your post, given that this issue was resolved and the lawyer in question isn't actually trying to sink the Atari retro community? You're right. Wonder if the game GO ever harassed Atari? Edited February 24, 2014 by high voltage Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Synthpopalooza #20 Posted February 24, 2014 Sorry. This is the site: http://www.notatari.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andromeda Stardust #21 Posted February 25, 2014 Albert, so you have at least spoken to Ms Keller about the trademark issues at hand. It is my understanding that certain portions of a certain website contain various assets, code, images, technical drawings, tutorials, trivia, and other related "content" pertaining to a certain company's IP, which are avalable for public viewing or download. Does the public availability of such related materials pose a problem to the owner of the assets in question? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mckafka99 #22 Posted February 25, 2014 Is there an alternate 'go to' site that members here should check into should issues ever arise here? I pray nothing ever happens to this community here as it has to be the top site (or one of the very top) sites for keeping 'Atari' alive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheNameOfTheGame #23 Posted February 25, 2014 You're right. Wonder if the game GO ever harassed Atari? Haha I saw your unedited post....You are truly one High Voltage dude I think it is best that you edited it. Good decision! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Synthpopalooza #24 Posted February 25, 2014 Well for one thing ... it's a very smart move that the Atari logo is not used in an official capacity as the logo of this website. That lessens the likelihood of copyright claims. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+slx #25 Posted February 25, 2014 Just call it Go.Atari, after a Japanese board game, after all that's what it is, a move in the game Go. Kristen Keller, sounds of German origin, NAZI BITCH Like Helen Keller, or what? The times they are a-changing and while this may have escaped the attention of the general public in the UK and the US, the number of Nazis in Germany has declined considerably during recent decades, down to a point where their percentage might be as low as that of Ku-Klux-Klan followers or adepts of similarly outfashioned views. And no, I am not German although my name might sound even more German than Mr. Keller's. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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