WTC strong arm tactics?

Nigerian 70.3 scam

WTC is going to sue you for slander.

I think it's Libel.

That's hurtful....... I have feelings.

"The distance that shall not be named" race series was all set to kick off this year, but they got a letter from JK Rowling's publisher threatening legal action.  

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Matt

(still chuckling over libel)

I think you are good.  The pope is into steeling it seems.  Robbing dead priests of their crucifixes... LoL

Accdg to the RD on that thread, the issue was the word "iron" not "half", on the first page of the thread.

I still have suspicions that WTC could have any rights to the word "half" as it applies to triathlon.   Ironman (although I believe it licenses it), 140.6, 70.3, yes, but not half.   Here's a good (old) article that doesn't really answer the question, LOL.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/features/ironmark.html

No. Half is not a trademarked term, nor is "half distance". Races have been called "half distance" and "full distance" for many years. Any quick Internet search will find dozens of races using the phrase "half distance" regarding their triathlon. The term "half" has been applied to triathlons in similar fashion to marathons.

When it comes to trademark law, an owner of a trademark like "Ironman" or "Ironman 70.3" has the right to protect their trademark. Often this takes the form of threatening letters or actual lawsuits. In a court of law, such things are decided based on degree of confusion a consumer may have regarding two products with similar names. If the consumer is confused by product X's name, thinking they're actually getting the trademarked product, then product X may have to change it's name.

The terms "full distance" or "full course" or "long course" or "long tri" etc. cannot be confused with "Ironman", neither can "half distance", "half course", or "half triathlon" be confused with "Ironman 70.3" which are their trademarked names.  People saying "Iron-distance", well, that's too close. People would confusing "Iron-distance" with "Ironman".

In summary, I don't believe the stories about WTC threatening over the use of the term "half".  I believe them if "Iron" is involved anywhere in the race name or literature or website or race description.  And even if the WTC did send a letter, jeeze people it's just a letter. Injunctions and lawsuits are far down the line. People need to understand trademark law a bit better.  WTC wouldn't win, and it wouldn't take a lot to beat them.

I think they could have a case if the event doesn't also host a "full".  because what is it half of?  Like Rev3 and B2B both offer a Full and Half option.  

http://rev3tri.com/events/

The use the term "Half REV" to describe their races.  I'm sure Rev3 would laugh at any letter from the WTC telling them to stop using "Half REV".

no.  they either own (or license) half (which they don't) or they don't.   It's not dependent on the race format(s).  Again, the barrelman issue was expressly because they used half "iron"

As to brucemorgan's last post re just a letter...  actually it's just a trail running conversation about a letter, not the actual letter.   Who knows how accurate it is, or whether that RD actually understood what was written, or conveyed the message properly, etc..  Although letters are written all the time, and its quetionable whether they can actually be enforced (i.e., the Specialized letter) I have no doubt that WTC's legal department is robust enough to know that any attempt to enforce "half" would be laughed out of court.  WTC likes to win, but they hate to lose more.

Actually, here is a handy link to the WTC's own page re what marks it owns/licenses

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/legal-faq.aspx#axzz2uv8ZFzrE

From that page:

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/legal-faq.aspx#ixzz2vIoSsTyX

As to the list of marks it owns - note that even half ironman is a dsign only, not a word mark:

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/legal-faq.aspx#ixzz2vIoZh1Lp