dricejb@drilex.UUCP (Craig Jackson drilex1) (01/08/91)
Interesting announcement. This is how I expected one part of the drama
to play out--NRC has the trademark to "Multigate", legally, in the U.S.
The most interesting note is that they had to buy it, and I believe that
their product was announced before July 5, 1990, which is the date that
NRC acquired ownership. I hope the guy got good money....
Now it remains to be seen what Webster Computer does in response. I
suspect that they have a valid trademark in Australia, and probably
the U.K., too. To my knowledge, the Webster Multigate has never been
offered for sale in the U.S., probably because of this trademark mixup.
Yet, I don't think it is viable for a technology company the size of
either NRC or Webster to have different product names in different
countries.
The market-positioning aspects of this fight are also interesting. NRC
is entirely within its rights defending the trademark (actually it's
a responsibility, too, to avoid losing it). And I'm pretty sure that
they've got a valid product. Yet, their box is positioned as a less-
featured device than the Webster Computer box. Also, the Webster
Computer box was available in Australia and the U.K. before the
NRC box was announced.
The net effect of these circumstances is to make it appear that NRC is
trying to use non-technical means to compete against a product which
they cannot compete technically. Which isn't a good appearance, at least
to people such as those who read this newsgroup/mailing-list.
As for me, I can't afford or justify either of them....
--
Craig Jackson
dricejb@drilex.dri.mgh.com
{bbn,axiom,redsox,atexnet,ka3ovk}!drilex!{dricej,dricejb}raob@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (richard oxbrow) (01/09/91)
In article <20545@drilex.UUCP> dricejb@drilex.UUCP (Craig Jackson drilex1) writes: >Interesting announcement. This is how I expected one part of the drama >to play out--NRC has the trademark to "Multigate", legally, in the U.S. > >The most interesting note is that they had to buy it, and I believe that >their product was announced before July 5, 1990, which is the date that >NRC acquired ownership. I hope the guy got good money.... > > >Now it remains to be seen what Webster Computer does in response. I >suspect that they have a valid trademark in Australia, and probably >the U.K., too. To my knowledge, the Webster Multigate has never been >offered for sale in the U.S., probably because of this trademark mixup. >Yet, I don't think it is viable for a technology company the size of >either NRC or Webster to have different product names in different >countries. > Problem solved .. Webster's (at least in Australia) have renamed their product from "Webster Multigate" to "Webster MultiPort Gateway", also they are planning to add the DECnet protocol to their box. (or so their newsletter claims). richard .. richard oxbrow |internet raob@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU dept. ee eng, uni of melbourne |uunet ..!uunet!munnari!mullian!raob parkville victoria 3052 |fax +[613] 344 6678 australia |phone +[613] 344 6782
mike@wcc.oz.au (Michael Lawrence) (01/09/91)
In article <6388@munnari.oz.au> raob@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (richard oxbrow) writes: > >in article <20545@drilex.UUCP> dricejb@drilex.UUCP (Craig Jackson drilex1) > >writes: > > > >Interesting announcement. This is how I expected one part of the drama > >to play out--NRC has the trademark to "Multigate", legally, in the U.S. > > > >The most interesting note is that they had to buy it, and I believe that > >their product was announced before July 5, 1990, which is the date that > >NRC acquired ownership. I hope the guy got good money.... > > > > > >Now it remains to be seen what Webster Computer does in response. I > >suspect that they have a valid trademark in Australia, and probably > >the U.K., too. To my knowledge, the Webster Multigate has never been > >offered for sale in the U.S., probably because of this trademark mixup. > >Yet, I don't think it is viable for a technology company the size of > >either NRC or Webster to have different product names in different > >countries. > > > > > Problem solved .. Webster's (at least in Australia) have renamed their > product from "Webster Multigate" to "Webster MultiPort Gateway", also > they are planning to add the DECnet protocol to their box. (or so their > newsletter claims). Richard is correct. We have decided to rename our AppleTalk Router and IP Gateway product as the "Webster MultiPort Gateway" - but not just in Australia; the name change is effective worldwide. Also, we are planning to add DECnet protocol support to the MultiPort Gateway. We will begin shipping the Webster MultiPort Gateway (which incidentally supports AppleTalk phase 2) later this month (January). Also, Webster Computer actually released the Webster MultiGate in the US prior to the trademark mixup - direct any US sales enquiries to our US Office (details below). Michael Lawrence (mike@wcc.oz.au) Webster Computer Corporation 1270 Ferntree Gully Rd Scoresby 3179 Victoria Australia Webster Computer Corporation 2109 O'Toole Ave Suite J San Jose California CA 95131-1303 Phone: (408) 954 8054 Fax: (408) 954 1832 Email: wcc@cup.portal.com