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Show HN: Never wait for Paypal again

slowpal.com

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Re: Show HN: Never wait for Paypal again

#23

Post by thehodge »

true_religion wrote: post #20
mblake wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Change the colors at least. Colors + the fact that he italicized the logo make it way too similar to PayPal's logo. Really not a good move.

I seriously doubt they will sue on the basis that his name has "Pal", uses italics, and has blue like the PayPal logo. They may however, just cut off access through Paypal API.

eBay (the parent company) has gone after services with the word Bay it in with completely different logos

Re: Show HN: Never wait for Paypal again

#24

Post by Benferhat »

true_religion wrote: post #20
mblake wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Change the colors at least. Colors + the fact that he italicized the logo make it way too similar to PayPal's logo. Really not a good move.

I seriously doubt they will sue on the basis that his name has "Pal", uses italics, and has blue like the PayPal logo. They may however, just cut off access through Paypal API.

He might get a letter like this [0]:

We are intellectual property counsel to PayPal, Inc. of Palo Alto, California. As you are well aware, PayPal provides financial services under the PAYPAL name and service mark and owns and operates the website at . Our client's name, service mark and website are among its most valuable assets.

We have recently been made aware of your operation of two websites, and , that infringe our client's service mark rights in the PAYPAL mark. Printouts of your websites are attached to the confirmation copy of this letter. We further understand that these websites provide a forum to criticize PayPal, Inc. Our client respects your right to do so--provided your websites do not contain any false, disparaging or defamatory statements. We must remind you that any such statements contained on your websites are actionable and can subject you to liability.

Regardless of your purported mission, your use of our client's PAYPAL mark in connection with the operation of websites and in domain names constitutes trademark infringement. Quite simply, use of the PAYPAL mark in a commercial manner is not protected free speech. It is quite evident from your websites that you are profiting off of the PAYPAL mark by selling banner advertisements, offering competing financial services, and using your site to attract PayPal's customers for your own commercial gain. For such infringement, you can be held liable for monetary damages (tripled), an injunction and our client's attorneys' fees.

On behalf of our client, we must insist that you immediately cease all further use of the PAYPAL mark and transfer the domain names to our client. We further demand that you provide an accounting of the profits that you have received in connection with your operation of these websites.

Your swift and full cooperation would enable us to resolve this matter quickly and on an amicable basis. Please contact me as soon as possible, and no later than June 7, 2002, so that we may facilitate a prompt resolution of this matter.

Very truly yours,

Anthony J. Malutta TOWNSEND and TOWNSEND and CREW LLP Two Embarcadero Center, 8th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111-3834 Tel: 415.576.0200 Fax: 415.576.0300

[0] http://www.paypalsucks.com/domain-name-disputes.shtml

Re: Show HN: Never wait for Paypal again

#29

Post by anu_gupta »

The problem I have with this (and I don't know whether it's just me, or if it's more common) is that I'm now innately distrustful of any third party service that wants to connect to of my banking or bank-like accounts and services.

I don't know these guys, I don't know how secure they are, and more importantly, I'm fairly sure PayPal would disown any responsibility if the data they would be able to access was used for nefarious purposes.

Re: Show HN: Never wait for Paypal again

#30

Post by abuella »

anu_gupta wrote: post #29

The problem I have with this (and I don't know whether it's just me, or if it's more common) is that I'm now innately distrustful of any third party service that wants to connect to of my banking or bank-like accounts and services. I don't know these guys, I don't know how secure they are, and more importantly, I'm fairly sure PayPal would disown any responsibility if the data they would be able to access was used fo…

its using official paypal apis. read only access. no funny business. no nefarious purposes. just trying to make life a little easier for fellow developers.
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