Matt says George Lucas’ lawyers are sending Storm Troopers after him for using the word “droid” in the title of his startup, Addroid. He has precious few days to coordinate his Rebel Alliance defense and sent out a hologram (OK, an email) saying “Help me, Consumerists. You’re my only hope!”
The name of my startup is Addroid. It’s an HTML5 ad serving platform. When trying to come up with a name I thought it should have the word “ad” in it. Also, it’s digital advertising so I thought: computers, robots, androids…wait – Addroid. That’s kinda cool.This week the law firm representing George Lucas informed me that Addroid will lead to customer confusion. I get that George Lucas owns the word “droid” up and down. But I feel Addroid is simply a made up word. I really thought if I made up a word I’d be cool. The name of the company isn’t Ad Droid (two words). I don’t believe that anyone interested in my B2B ad platform would for a second think that C3P0 and R2D2 are going to come popping out of the browser.
I have a decent amount of money already invested in the domain and branding. I have 10 days to reply. I don’t really know what to do.
No one wants to see Matt get lifted up off the ground and choked to death by an invisible Force power, so please share your advice and spread word of his tale. Does anybody know Han Solo’s AIM handle?
More From Consumerist
-
Here Is Your Chance To Buy A Chicken McNugget That Looks Like A Zombie
-
Worst Company In America Quarterfinals: EA Vs. AT&T
-
Advocates File Net Neutrality Complaint Over AT&T's FaceTime Policy
-
Nike Pulls Bullet-Themed Ad Featuring Olympian Accused Of Shooting Girlfriend
-
Meet The Final 4 Contenders For Worst Company In America 2013
Here’s what I don’t get. Lucas doesn’t want Addroid to be confused with anything Star Wars related. How does Motorola paying Lucas a licensing fee avoid such confusion? Does paying a fee mean Droid customers would no longer think, “Gee, this phone must work similarly to R2D2!”
What George Lucs doesn’t have enough money?? This reminds me of when Metallica was going batshit crazy over illegal file downloading. Pathetic, all of them.
Maybe you can split it to be ADD-roid…the way the hyperactive kids get RIPPED in 30 days.
No confusion on that one.
I’m on George’s side. Back off the “droid” name. It is definitively linked to the Star Wars entertainment empire.
“Master Matt, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem. Surely you can do better!”
(+1 if you know what character said that.)
Lucas FTW. Also, “addroid” reminds me of “adenoid” but it also sounds as if the person saying it has a bad cold and really meant to say “android.”
That is all.
/geek
Matt needs to trademark his word now. The lawyers for Lucas need to show harm to his brand. Some will back down simply because the whole law thing scares them. Addroid is a unique never before used word. Its yours Matt if you trademark it now. The more this silliness on Lucas’ part gets out, the better. And honestly, how much of this does George even know at this point. It’s his goon legal staff that have nothing else to do all day.
Beautiful logo… http://www.addroid.com/ but you are clearly using their trademarked word.
It’s the logo that got you sued. Change the color of the second “D”.
Get a trademark/IP attorney to send a response. Attorneys send out cease-and-desist letters like this all the time for anything that might remotely be similar to one of their client’s trademarked items. Whether you infringe is not clear (personally, and in a not-a-lawyer way, I don’t think you do) is a matter for the courts (and it probably won’t get that far).
Response should be:
1) we didn’t copy your mark.
2) we are in a different service.
3) even if our mark is similar, there’s no confusion in the marketplace.
4) if you continue to threaten us, we may sue you for interference with a business relationship.
5) get bent.
Then see whether they respond.
Tell them it’s “Add-roid”
“That’s no moon. That’s your legal representation bill.”
He might lose this one. According to the OED, the first usage of “droid” was indeed by Lucas.
1976 G. Lucas Star Wars iv. 56 ‘Droids can’t replace a man, Luke.    1989 ‘G. Naylor’ Red Dwarf 81 Skutters, the small service droids with three-fingered clawed hands, joined to their motorized bases by triple-jointed necks, whizzed between the various computer terminals.    1996 SFX May 96/2 This less-than-cuddly little droid could be your best friend in a time of crisis.    2000 New Scientist 21 Oct. 11/3 A 900-megahertz radio link connects the two-wheeled droid’s webcam via your PC to a Web server. Log on, and you can drive the robot around your home.
Clearly a play on the word android, which Lucas does not own.
Matt…I find your lack of deference to Mr. Lucas…disturbing.
Raise your hand if the word “addroid” makes you think of star wars in any way.
*crickets*
Didn’t think so. OP’s name is a derivitive of “android”, not droid. LucasArts has always been a copyright nazi that sues anyone with a name even remotely similar to one of their trademarked.