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by rogerthat 6096 days ago
"The Lean Startup is a trademark and service mark owned by Eric Ries"

His ideas sounds awfully similar to YCombinator's.

Grounds for a patent dispute?

Does pg really own Lean Startup?
2 comments
falsestprophet 6096 days ago
A trademark is a distinctive sign or indicator [1]. It has nothing at all to do with patents [2] or "ideas."

Coca Cola and Pepsi each own trademarks for their respective names and likenesses, but neither own patents on the idea of selling sugared water.

  [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark
  [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent
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rogerthat 6096 days ago
Ok, point taken, I wasn't aware of the distinction between patents and trademarks.

But my point is, don't you find it at all absurd that Eric Ries is trying to own the term "Lean Startup"? It strikes me as being a little ridiculous.

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teej 6096 days ago
I don't see any indication that Eric Ries himself is attempting such a thing. It seems like a cover-your-ass move on the part of the group originator (Rich Collins).
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catch23 6096 days ago
Are we patenting ideas now?
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