A UK high court has ruled against Hormel's objection to the use of the trademarked term "Spam" in email company Antilles Landscapes Investments' product, "Spambuster." Hormel thought that it was confusing and denigrating to its lunchmeat. Said the UK Patent registrar in charge of the case back in February 2002, "The proposition that someone who encounters computer programming services under the mark Spambuster would think any less of the applicants' luncheon meat product or be discouraged from purchasing that product is more than a little fanciful."
Hormel wanted to re-evaluate the decision, but the High Court said, no dice. UK companies can feel free to register trademarks including the word "spam" as long as, of course, you don't try to compete with the ham-like meat product.
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Posted at 4:51AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Elliott Back