Stupidity for Dummies
As we've already seen (Piss Off, PetroSoft), people can get pretty weird when they combine trade-mark lawyers with Google searches.
Another recent example of this lunacy is Hungry Minds, Inc. They really like sending baseless threats to Web site proprietors about ``infringing'' their trademark; Infoshop.org and their Black Bloc forDummies page are their latest target. Hungry Minds, Inc. complains that this page ``dilutes'' their trade mark.
It's absolutely ludicrous that one can get a trademark on a simple and commonly-used English phrase such as ``for Dummies'' in the first place. It's even more ludicrous that such ignorant people as those at Hungry Minds, Inc. use their legal departments to threaten otherwise little-known Web sites with ridiculous lawsuits.
Previous attempts at shutting down ``infringing'' Web sites that I have heard about include: Corporate Standover Tactics forDummies (explanation) at Octapod; the host of a page upon which a postwith the title ``SMART_HOST for dummies'' appeared; and a ``CVS fordummies'' site.
Someone at Geocities has set up a fun Lawsuitfor Dummies site which apparently links to a bunch of ``for Dummies'' phrases recursively.
One must wonder if thisauto insurance page has been threatened.
How about the author of ``TheIllustrated Complete In A Nutshell Idiot's Guide To Learning The ZenAnd Art Of Defending Against Lawsuits In 21 Days For Dummies''?