Is the WordNet name trademarked by Princeton?

[ekaf]

According to @ChristianeFellbaum (https://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/5#issuecomment-925058271):

the name "WordNet" is trademarked by Princeton and cannot and should not be used by other, similar databases.

Ths seems to imply that some wordnet projects that use an uppercase "N", like f. ex. plWordNet need to use lowercase "n" as in "Wordnet" instead.

Updated: However, according to the USPT0 (https://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/14#issuecomment-947338649), this trademark was cancelled in 2016. Does it mean that anybody is now free to use the name "WordNet" as they wish?

[goodmami]

The OMW's W is Wordnet, and we've already begun the work to relabel the two lexicons derived from the Princeton WordNet. I'm not sure if it's OMW's responsibility to enforce the policy for the other projects included in OMW. It might make sense for any abandoned wordnets for which OMW is now effectively the maintainer.

[ekaf]

@goodmami I agree, and am not sure about OMW's legal responsibiliy neither. Nevertheless, the issue seems relevant because it may be problematic to distribute content that breaches Princeton's trademark.

grep wnname.*WordNet wns//2tab.py

wns/arb/arb2tab.py:wnname = "Arabic WordNet (AWN v2)" wns/eng/eng2tab.py:wnname = "Princeton WordNet" (May not be OK, if it includes modifications) wns/fin/fin2tab.py:wnname = "FinnWordNet" wns/isl/isl2tab.py:wnname = "IceWordNet" wns/ita/ita2tab.py:wnname = "MultiWordNet" wns/pol/pol2tab.py:wnname = "plWordNet" wns/slk/lit2tab.py:wnname = "Lithuanian WordNet" wns/slk/slk2tab.py:wnname = "Slovak WordNet"

[ChristianeFellbaum]

Dear All,

the WordNets that exist already shouldn't change their names! We are not sending any lawyers!

Best, Christiane

---

From: Eric Kafe @.> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:47 AM To: bond-lab/omw-data @.> Cc: ChristianeFellbaum @.>; Mention @.> Subject: Re: [bond-lab/omw-data] The WordNet name is trademarked by Princeton (Issue #14)

@goodmamihttps://github.com/goodmami I agree, and am not sure about OMW's legal responsibiliy neither. Nevertheless, the issue seems relevant because it may be problematic to distribute content that breaches Princeton's trademark.

grep wnname.WordNet wns//*2tab.py

wns/arb/arb2tab.py:wnname = "Arabic WordNet (AWN v2)" wns/eng/eng2tab.py:wnname = "Princeton WordNet" (May not be OK, if it includes modifications) wns/fin/fin2tab.py:wnname = "FinnWordNet" wns/isl/isl2tab.py:wnname = "IceWordNet" wns/ita/ita2tab.py:wnname = "MultiWordNet" wns/pol/pol2tab.py:wnname = "plWordNet" wns/slk/lit2tab.py:wnname = "Lithuanian WordNet" wns/slk/slk2tab.py:wnname = "Slovak WordNet"

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[fcbond]

Hi,

thanks for the clarification! I am sure no one will confuse the wordnets in different languages with the Princeton WordNet.

We will make sure to label our English wordnet to show that is derived from the Princeton WordNet and not the actual Princeton WordNet.

On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 9:07 PM ChristianeFellbaum @.***> wrote:

Dear All,

the WordNets that exist already shouldn't change their names! We are not sending any lawyers!

Best, Christiane

---

From: Eric Kafe @.> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:47 AM To: bond-lab/omw-data @.> Cc: ChristianeFellbaum @.>; Mention @.> Subject: Re: [bond-lab/omw-data] The WordNet name is trademarked by Princeton (Issue #14)

@goodmamihttps://github.com/goodmami I agree, and am not sure about OMW's legal responsibiliy neither. Nevertheless, the issue seems relevant because it may be problematic to distribute content that breaches Princeton's trademark.

grep wnname.WordNet wns//*2tab.py

wns/arb/arb2tab.py:wnname = "Arabic WordNet (AWN v2)" wns/eng/eng2tab.py:wnname = "Princeton WordNet" (May not be OK, if it includes modifications) wns/fin/fin2tab.py:wnname = "FinnWordNet" wns/isl/isl2tab.py:wnname = "IceWordNet" wns/ita/ita2tab.py:wnname = "MultiWordNet" wns/pol/pol2tab.py:wnname = "plWordNet" wns/slk/lit2tab.py:wnname = "Lithuanian WordNet" wns/slk/slk2tab.py:wnname = "Slovak WordNet"

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub< https://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/14#issuecomment-946386081>, or unsubscribe< https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AMKIFOXKVHJMOZCLK7WFSDLUHUA7LANCNFSM5GGX6ZFQ

. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS< https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android< https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub .

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-- Francis Bond http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/fcbond/ Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies Nanyang Technological University

[ekaf]

This may actually be a non-issue, since the Princeton trademark was cancelled back in 2016, according to the following record from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/):

Word Mark WORDNET Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 009. US 038. G & S: computer programs in the nature of an inter-relational dictionary/lexicon of the English language for use in information retrieval, machine translation, vocabulary instruction and text editing. FIRST USE: 19920600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920600 Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING Serial Number 74207961 Filing Date September 30, 1991 Current Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1B Published for Opposition July 14, 1992 Registration Number 1784773 Registration Date July 27, 1993 Owner (REGISTRANT) Trustees of Princeton University, The CORPORATION NEW JERSEY Princeton University, New South Building, 4th Floor P.O. Box 36 PRINCETON NEW JERSEY 085440036 Attorney of Record RICHARD C. WOODBRIDGE Type of Mark TRADEMARK Register PRINCIPAL Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20030221. Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20030221 Live/Dead Indicator DEAD Cancellation Date February 5, 2016

[fcbond]

Hi,

Even if the trademark is no longer in operation I would prefer to honour the wishes of the Princeton WordNet developers as far as we can.

On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 1:28 PM Eric Kafe @.***> wrote:

This may actually be a non-issue, since the Princeton trademark was cancelled back in 2016, according to the following record from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/):

Word Mark WORDNET Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 009. US 038. G & S: computer programs in the nature of an inter-relational dictionary/lexicon of the English language for use in information retrieval, machine translation, vocabulary instruction and text editing. FIRST USE: 19920600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920600 Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING Serial Number 74207961 Filing Date September 30, 1991 Current Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1B Published for Opposition July 14, 1992 Registration Number 1784773 Registration Date July 27, 1993 Owner (REGISTRANT) Trustees of Princeton University, The CORPORATION NEW JERSEY Princeton University, New South Building, 4th Floor P.O. Box 36 PRINCETON NEW JERSEY 085440036 Attorney of Record RICHARD C. WOODBRIDGE Type of Mark TRADEMARK Register PRINCIPAL Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20030221. Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20030221 Live/Dead Indicator DEAD Cancellation Date February 5, 2016

— You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/14#issuecomment-947338649, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAIPZRW52LBX4P3E35OKUWDUHZG3VANCNFSM5GGX6ZFQ . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675 or Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub.

-- Francis Bond http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/fcbond/ Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies Nanyang Technological University

[ChristianeFellbaum]

Aha!

Christiane

---

From: Eric Kafe @.> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2021 1:23 AM To: bond-lab/omw-data @.> Cc: ChristianeFellbaum @.>; Mention @.> Subject: Re: [bond-lab/omw-data] The WordNet name is trademarked by Princeton (Issue #14)

This may actually be a non-issue, since the Princeton trademark was cancelled back in 2016, according to the following record from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/):

Word Mark WORDNET Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 009. US 038. G & S: computer programs in the nature of an inter-relational dictionary/lexicon of the English language for use in information retrieval, machine translation, vocabulary instruction and text editing. FIRST USE: 19920600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920600 Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING Serial Number 74207961 Filing Date September 30, 1991 Current Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1B Published for Opposition July 14, 1992 Registration Number 1784773 Registration Date July 27, 1993 Owner (REGISTRANT) Trustees of Princeton University, The CORPORATION NEW JERSEY Princeton University, New South Building, 4th Floor P.O. Box 36 PRINCETON NEW JERSEY 085440036 Attorney of Record RICHARD C. WOODBRIDGE Type of Mark TRADEMARK Register PRINCIPAL Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20030221. Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20030221 Live/Dead Indicator DEAD Cancellation Date February 5, 2016

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/14#issuecomment-947338649, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AMKIFOQJX6FHWAIN4RAPBBTUHZG3XANCNFSM5GGX6ZFQ. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOShttps://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675 or Androidhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub.

[ChristianeFellbaum]

Thanks, Francis! And I hope everybody understands that we are not doing this to be mean, but just to protect ourselves against "underground" WordNets that we may get flak for. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) the nasty mails we get from time to time, where people object to entries for political/ideological reasons, for example.

Once, an entire synagogue in California declared war on us for having an entry on Palestine that they didn't like. Not to mention the bodies of water that different countries claim as theirs.

Cheers, Christiane

P.S. the PU lawyer once told us that a Christian fundamentalist group had violated the TM and taken the name WordNet (as in "bible"). We decided that wasn't any kind of competition worth worrying about....

---

From: Francis Bond @.> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2021 2:11 AM To: bond-lab/omw-data @.> Cc: ChristianeFellbaum @.>; Mention @.> Subject: Re: [bond-lab/omw-data] Is the WordNet name trademarked by Princeton? (Issue #14)

Hi,

Even if the trademark is no longer in operation I would prefer to honour the wishes of the Princeton WordNet developers as far as we can.

On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 1:28 PM Eric Kafe @.***> wrote:

This may actually be a non-issue, since the Princeton trademark was cancelled back in 2016, according to the following record from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/):

Word Mark WORDNET Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 009. US 038. G & S: computer programs in the nature of an inter-relational dictionary/lexicon of the English language for use in information retrieval, machine translation, vocabulary instruction and text editing. FIRST USE: 19920600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920600 Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING Serial Number 74207961 Filing Date September 30, 1991 Current Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1B Published for Opposition July 14, 1992 Registration Number 1784773 Registration Date July 27, 1993 Owner (REGISTRANT) Trustees of Princeton University, The CORPORATION NEW JERSEY Princeton University, New South Building, 4th Floor P.O. Box 36 PRINCETON NEW JERSEY 085440036 Attorney of Record RICHARD C. WOODBRIDGE Type of Mark TRADEMARK Register PRINCIPAL Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20030221. Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20030221 Live/Dead Indicator DEAD Cancellation Date February 5, 2016

— You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/14#issuecomment-947338649, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAIPZRW52LBX4P3E35OKUWDUHZG3VANCNFSM5GGX6ZFQ . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675 or Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub.

-- Francis Bond http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/fcbond/ Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies Nanyang Technological University

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/bond-lab/omw-data/issues/14#issuecomment-947358951, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AMKIFOVSDYELIVTROEH3Q5DUHZMRHANCNFSM5GGX6ZFQ. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOShttps://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675 or Androidhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub.

[fcbond]

We have renamed the wordnet in the latest release.