On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 1:06 PM <bzs@theworld.com> wrote:
You don't have to register a trademark with either to claim legal force.
Trademarks have a fascinating history. Originally they were a requirement rather than a right: producers of certain commodities were required to place a distinctive mark to authenticate themselves as the maker. They were literally a mark of your trade that you placed on the thing you sold. Forgery of these marks became a problem after which laws were passed making it illegal to use another's mark. Goes all the way back to 13th century England. Modern trademark law, in which it became possible to protect words instead of line-art, didn't come about until the mid 19th century. Regards, Bill Herrin -- For hire. https://bill.herrin.us/resume/