The term is also legally protected and I think there would be benefit in generating an open source alternative term. This comes with its own problems of course.
Indeed, I hear that “Circling” may itself become legally protected to refer to a specific style (probably the Circling Institute’s), rather than the umbrella term for related styles, in a way that will further complicate things if that happens.
It seems like there was a trademark application filed last months by the Circling Institute. I think it’s unlikely that the trademark will be granted given that the term gets used by a variety of different people.
Filing a trademark application in this way is a way to get the government to create a binding ruling that a term is not owned by anyone in a relatively cheap way.
That’s a reason to get a government to publish a document that says: “We found that Circling is a general term used by multiple organizations and can’t be trademarked because it’s a general term”.
Afterwards if someone tries to hassle you, you can point them to the official government document that says that it’s fine to use Circling however you want.
The term is also legally protected and I think there would be benefit in generating an open source alternative term. This comes with its own problems of course.
Indeed, I hear that “Circling” may itself become legally protected to refer to a specific style (probably the Circling Institute’s), rather than the umbrella term for related styles, in a way that will further complicate things if that happens.
It seems like there was a trademark application filed last months by the Circling Institute. I think it’s unlikely that the trademark will be granted given that the term gets used by a variety of different people.
Filing a trademark application in this way is a way to get the government to create a binding ruling that a term is not owned by anyone in a relatively cheap way.
I’d also note there’s a difference between legal enforcement and ‘expectation of getting hassled’ especially with scrupulous people.
That’s a reason to get a government to publish a document that says: “We found that Circling is a general term used by multiple organizations and can’t be trademarked because it’s a general term”.
Afterwards if someone tries to hassle you, you can point them to the official government document that says that it’s fine to use Circling however you want.