Hello from a from a far-away land!
I apologize for not writing to some of you since we left. We think of you a lot
and miss you very much. I received the following message from my boss and
immediately you mit you mighht be interested to know that the word "listserv" which
entered our lingo a few years ago is not to be used generically. You might want
to replace it with such phrases as "discussion list", "distribution list",
"electronic conference..."

--Emilie


From:    IN%"[log in to unmask]"   "David Null"
To:      [log in to unmask]
Subject: Listserv as a registered trademark

I thought some of you might find the following message interesting.  I don't
know if we use the word "listserv" on any of our pages, but ALA has
been asked to stop using it since it's a trademarked name.

--David




>From:    IN%"[log in to unmask]"
>To:      Reference and User Services Association List <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Word Usage (fwd)
>
>something we all want to avoid which was news to me!  See below.
>
>Jo Bell Whitlatch
>San Jose State University Library
>San Jose CA 95192-0028
>FAX: 408-924-2701
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>Phone: 408-924-2742
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 09:45:19 -0500
>From: Lois Ann Gregory-Wood <[log in to unmask]>
>To: ALA Council List <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Word Usage
>
>I thought you might be interested in the following message we received
>from Rob Carlson on the use of the word "listserv."
>Lois Ann
>_____________________________
>Hi All,
>
>The attached touches on something I've been harping about for quite
>some time, and now it's potentially becoming a legal issue.  "LISTSERV" is
>a registered trademark of L-Soft international, Inc., and is not to be used
>generically to describe a distribution list or discussion list.  Needless to
>say, L-Soft might not be so picky about our usage if we used their
>software, but we don't.  We don't want them making a test case out of
>us, either.
>
>So, please review all your web files, instruction sheets, etc., and change
>all references to "listserv" to either just "list" or "discussion list," or
>"distribution list."  I leave it to your best judgement as to how best to
>rephrase your text, but please do not use the word "listserv" in any form.
>
>Let me know if you have any questions.
>
>Rob
>
>>>> "Connie Newman" <[log in to unmask]> 9/24/98  11:32 am >>>
>It has come to our attention that you are using the
>term LISTSERV (R) to describe electronic mail
>distribution lists on your site,
>
>[specific URL deleted to protect the guilty; there are probably hundreds
>of references to "listserv" on the ALA web site]
>
>Unfortunately, that term is a registered trademark.
>
>It is a common mistake to use LISTSERV (R) as a
>generic term.  It would be helpful if you would
>replace it on your site with another phrase, such as
>*mailing list* or *announcement service*.
>
>We apologize if this causes any inconvenience.  Your
>attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
>
>Please contact me with any concerns or questions.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Connie Newman
>
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Connie Newman <[log in to unmask]>
>L-Soft international, Inc.
>http://www.lsoft.com
>


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
David Null                                        Phone:   608 262-8271
Head, Reference                                     Fax:   608 262-8569
262B Memorial Library
University of Wisconsin-Madison
728 State Street                                    [log in to unmask]
Madison, WI  53706-1494
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=