Is 'Blender' copyrighted?

gundream · Post by **gundream** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:12 am

Hello everybody.

In this link http://www.gamegenomeproject.com/ from Game Genome Project, they are using 'Blender' as name for a new Android App. Is that legal?

Post by **stiv** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:55 pm

Blender itself is (mostly) copyrighted by the Blender Foundation. The name is not a trade mark. There is also a (failing) music magazine called Blender.

This particular 'Blender' appears to be a web-based app for filtering or choosing games you might be interested in.

CoDEmanX · Post by **CoDEmanX** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:33 am

how could you copyright a commonly used English word?

if so, i would copyright "and"

Post by **stiv** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:29 pm

Copyright essential mean "I made it and it's mine". In the US, you automatically hold the copyright on anything you write. (disclaimer: not a lawyer).

We are mixing up copyright (the code) and trademark (the name) here.

CoDEmanX · Post by **CoDEmanX** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:17 pm

topic question is:
is "Blender" copyrighted? <-- with quote marks

so question is: is it allowed to use the name. Yes, it is. But if you would release an app which lets you model 3d stuff, called it blender and used a similar logo, than it would be illegal (as brands / labels are protected + you must not confuse customers with similar product + name)

is Blender copyrighted?
Yes, stiv said it already + in germany you automatically own the copyright for everything you create too. In germany, you can't ever sell the copyright, just give others permissions to use it. But what you created loses copyright and becomes public domain 70 years after the creator's death (does not apply to snapshot pictures taken, it's 40 years after release or death)

spaces · Post by **spaces** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:12 am

CoDEmanX wrote:how could you copyright a commonly used English word?

Funny eh.. try Apple roflmao...

Post by **stiv** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:13 pm

Funny eh.. try Apple roflmao...

Once again, trademark vs copyright.

CoDEmanX · Post by **CoDEmanX** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:05 am

you're right stiv xD

"Apple" is a little different, there are special rules for very well known companies.