Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

2 hours ago, marchyman said:

That someone else being Microsoft who registered the trademark in 2020, filed for registration in 2018.

https://trademarks.justia.com/880/95/m12-88095745.html

A trademark search for M12 yields 64 results. Among them is an active one by Leica:

https://trademarks.justia.com/793/52/m12-79352811.html

Serial Number: 79352811

Word Mark: M12

Class Status: Code6 - Active

  • Thanks 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, marchyman said:

That someone else being Microsoft who registered the trademark in 2020, filed for registration in 2018.

I’m always getting Microsoft and Leica products confused 😵‍💫.

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, SrMi said:

A trademark search for M12 yields 64 results. Among them is an active one by Leica:

https://trademarks.justia.com/793/52/m12-79352811.html

Serial Number: 79352811

Word Mark: M12

Class Status: Code6 - Active

According to the article in Digital Camera World:

“Although the USPTO still lists the trademark status as “active,” the trail suggests that Leica simply ceased pursuing approval after encountering hurdles in the registration process.”

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/rangefinder-cameras/trademark-trouble-could-a-leica-m12-camera-never-exist-in-the-us

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

M12 is Microsoft's venture capital fund, their logo has a distinct design where the second vertical line of the M is actually a 1. M12 is also a Samsung Galaxy model and even a sub machine gun made by Beretta. I don't see how Leica cannot use it as a continuation of their model naming. I'm by no means a trademark expert but I thought that trademarking was merely protection against your logo or design and how it looks or sounds, rather than the actual terminology or word. 🤷‍♂️

Edited by costa43
Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm no lawyer, but as far as I am aware there must be a risk of confusion for a trade mark conflict to exist. Hardly the case here. Think of all the guns named M9, M10,M11, etc. Anyway, there would be nothing new in an USA name for the M12, The EOS 300D was marketed as the EOS Rebel in the USA and EOS Kiss in Japan.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

4 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I'm no lawyer, but as far as I am aware there must be a risk of confusion for a trade mark conflict to exist. Hardly the case here. Think of all the guns named M9, M10,M11, etc. Anyway, there would be nothing new in an USA name for the M12, The EOS 300D was marketed as the EOS Rebel in the USA and EOS Kiss in Japan.

I like Leica Kiss. It’s like a kiss after forking over the money. 😃😃😃

  • Haha 4
Link to post
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I'm no lawyer, but as far as I am aware there must be a risk of confusion for a trade mark conflict to exist. Hardly the case here. Think of all the guns named M9, M10,M11, etc. Anyway, there would be nothing new in an USA name for the M12, The EOS 300D was marketed as the EOS Rebel in the USA and EOS Kiss in Japan.

And in any case M12 isn't a trademark, its a model designation. But I'd guess there are different legalities in different jurisdictions so if someone already has an M12 camera model then this might cause conflict. Wasn't this the case with the Olympus M1 which Olympus had to redesignate the OM1 because Leica already had an M1 model?

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

A US tool company markets a trademarked M12™ inspection camera (more or less a "proctoscope" or "borescope" for insertion behind walls and through tiny access holes for building inspections).

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Maybe Leica should revert to the Barnack/Roman numbering - an Mxii (Mxiid, Mxiip, Mxiim - although that gets pretty close to the old Minolta Maxxum AF SLRs, when "pronounced").

Or simply (for US distribution only) just plain "M" (as in M (typ 240)). One can see why Leica thought that was going to be a good idea, at the time.

It's a tricky problem: "unlucky" M13s would be next up.

A field day for collectors, though.

  • Haha 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, adan said:

Maybe Leica should revert to the Barnack/Roman numbering - an Mxii (Mxiid, Mxiip, Mxiim - although that gets pretty close to the old Minolta Maxxum AF SLRs, when "pronounced").

Or simply (for US distribution only) just plain "M" (as in M (typ 240)). One can see why Leica thought that was going to be a good idea, at the time.

It's a tricky problem: "unlucky" M13s would be next up.

A field day for collectors, though.

I fully expect an M13 to be completely bug-free :).

In Italy, the number 13 is considered a symbol of good fortune and success.

Triskaidekaphobia is weaker than tetraphobia, as superstition seems to be much stronger in East Asia.

  • Haha 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Just pick a random 5-character product code, as they used to. We all know what a SBLOO or a BOOWU is, don't we? We don't need any of this simplistic sequential rubbish.

Pick a code for the M12 from 11 881 376 possible combinations.

Edited by LocalHero1953
Link to post
Share on other sites

A friend of mine, not familiar with Leica naming conventions, fell into a state of near-collapse, unable to recover for several minutes, at my mere casual mention of the close-up attachment, the Leica NOOKY:

.................................

"The what?"

"The Leica NOOKY..."

"The WHAT??"

"That's what they called it..."

"(Collapsing into convulsions) You're kidding!"

"I assure you, I'm not."

.................................

 

(sigh...) 

  • Haha 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

28 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Good excuse for Leica to finally skip a base M12 model and go straight to the M12-P, which many would prefer anyway.

If they do that, they would need to follow it with Leica M12-PeePee.

Link to post
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, adan said:

A US tool company markets a trademarked M12™ inspection camera (more or less a "proctoscope" or "borescope" for insertion behind walls and through tiny access holes for building inspections).

Imagine the confusion this will cause!

Doctor: Good news, I got a new M12 camera that’s a little smaller than the previous model.

Patient: Congratulations, it’s a great camera. It takes stunning photos.

Doctor: I’ll be using it for your proctoscopy today.

Patient: What?!

  • Haha 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...