metadata?

[Thomas Paikeday]

Except when, a generic word, after long use in connection with a product,
service, etc. acquires a legal "secondary meaning," as "collegiate"  probably
did in connection with a webster's. Black's Law Dictionary explains "secondary
meaning" in a long paragraph.

"Peter A. McGraw" wrote:

> Does the prior generic existence of a word preclude registering it as a
> trademark and thus reserving it for that purpose from then on?
>
> Peter
>
> --On Thu, Jun 1, 2000 3:02 AM +0000 Joseph McCollum <prez234 at JUNO.COM>
> wrote:
>
> > I think this claim has been decided as frivolous (or it ought to be).  In
> > any case, I would like to know if "metadata" existed as a generic word
> > before 1986 (when the trademark was issued)...My colleagues are sure that
> > it did, but maybe Barry P. or others could confirm it.
> > ------
> >
> ****************************************************************************
>                                Peter A. McGraw
>                    Linfield College   *   McMinnville, OR
>                             pmcgraw at linfield.edu