Legal stuff.....

Using INNO setup, I asks if you would like to include a legal notice which the user must accept before installing. I was just wondering what kinda things should be included. I have heard that the way you word things will also affect the disclaimer. The only thing I know is that you need a line saying:

MyApp Copyright MyName 2001

Do I need to include the C in a circle symbol? If I make up a company name, can I just shove it in instead of MyName or do I need to register as a company or something? I was just thinking that with many people interested in distributing Apps. it is quite important.

AFAIK, you can use the (c) symbol without actually registering anything. I think the same applies to (tm). You do have to register a trademark to use (r) though.

Making up a company name is a bit more problematic though...you might accidentally pick a name which already exists...



"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel!" - Edmund Blackadder

Bill you have a clue where this stuff is concerned. Do you think I can use my lesterhouse.com as my company name? It is the only one that there is. I know this because there is an antique shop by that name and they approached me about buying it. I didn't sell obviously, because I rather like it and wanted to keep it (the fact that they didn't offer me much was somewhat of an influence.) So anyways would it be appropriate to name my company such?

Thanks for your input.

Don

Time is the best teacher; unfortunately it kills all its students.

Well, your laws may vary, but in BC, you're supposed to register a company name. I did it a few years ago, it cost < $100, and was relatively painless. The only problem I had was that it had BC in the title. You need special permission for that because they don't want BC to be associated with disreputable businesses (eg. "BC Pornography"). It's the same with the word "Royal" I believe....

In contrast, I doubt that there are any restrictions on website names. Hence I had no trouble reserving a URL for my company; I just had to make sure that it didn't already exist.

You can probably use lesterhouse.com as a name for copyright purposes, since it is unique and traceable to you. But actually registering it as a company name may pose problems. Especially since there is already an existing LesterHouse. Since they are in antiques and you are in software though, it will probably be ok (I know of several different "MacDonalds" stores for instance, but only one restaurant chain).

My advice is; spend the time and cash to do the search and register the company now. Even if there isn't any current conflict, you may be hooped if some software company registers the name in the future.




"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel!" - Edmund Blackadder

Thanks for the input Bill. I will take your advice and get our company name registered. We need to get a taxpayer's id # anyways, since we our primarily selling in our home state (IL). For some odd reason we have state sales tax. images/icons/smile.gif

Thanks again

Don

Time is the best teacher; unfortunately it kills all its students.

You can do a US trademark search online.

I think therefore I am... sometimes right. images/icons/wink.gif