HiFi Plus - the name

Having had a look at the new forum, I suspect that it's the sort of place that wouldn't want an unbeliever, so I haven't signed up. However, should anyone from there be looking in, I thought I'd check out the name, since it is the name of a magazine (which won't care a fig about any disclaimer you put on the forum). There are, or rather were, two registered trade marks, a Belgian one, not expired, and the following French registration, still valid.

HI FI PLUS
REGISTER: FRANCE
INTL CLASS: 16 (Papier et articles de la papeterie/Paper goods and printed matter)
38 (Communications/Communications services)
41 (Education et divertissement/Education and
entertainment services)
STATUS: ENREGISTREMENT (REGISTRATION)
GOODS/SERVICES: PAPER, CARDBOARD AND PRODUCTS OF THESE SUBSTANCES NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CLASSES; PRINTED MATTER; BOOK BINDING MATERIAL; PHOTOGRAPHY; STATIONERY; ADHESIVE FOR STATIONERY (ADHESIVE SUBSTANCES) OR HOUSEHOLD.
TELECOMMUNICATION PRESS AGENCY AND INFORMATION. COMMUNICATIONS BY TERMINALS EDUCATION; TRAINING, ENTERTAINMENT; SPORTS
ACTIVITIES AND CULTURAL. BOOK PUBLISHING, MAGAZINES. BOOK LENDING; ORGANISATION OF COMPETITIONS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION OR ENTERTAINMENT.
APPLICATION NUMBER: 93 494650
APPLICATION DATE: 01 Decembre 1993 (December 1, 1993)
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 93 494650
LAST FULL PUBLICATION: 14 Janvier 1994 (January 14, 1994)
PUBLISHED IN: BOPI NL 02 page 141
EXPIRATION DATE: 30 Novembre 2003 (November 30, 2003)
DURATION: 10 YEARS
LAST REPORTED OWNER(S): 7G EURL, 2 et 4, rue des Quatre Fils, 75003 PARIS, PARIS, FR (FRANCE / FRANCE)
OWNER NUMBER: B384430062
AGENT: 7G EURL, 2 et 4, rue des Quatre Fils, 75003 PARIS
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
PUBLICATION DU DEPOT (PUBLICATION OF APPLICATION):
BOPI NL Volume 02 page 141 dated 14 January 1994
AVIS D'ENREGISTREMENT (NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION):
BOPI NL Volume 19 page 253 dated 13 May 1994

It's in the "danger" class (16 - printed matter, including magazines). The class 38 services class is also a potential problem - it could mean a website service.

So, does it matter? It might well be that the thing has expired (note the expiry date of 30 November 2003, 'way beyond the 6 months' grace period allowed for late payment), and there are no worries. On the other hand, the database might not be up to date and the thing might indeed still be alive. If so, there has been a recent spate of cases of trade mark owners getting URLs not their own assigned to them. However, these all involved trade marks with substantial reputations. On the other hand, "Hi Fi Plus" may have a substantial reputation with the hi-fi public in France, enough for the owners to say that such a website could cause deception or confusion of the public (the cardinal sin in the trade marks business).

My feeling is that the thing is dead and you're probably OK, but keep an eye out for stroppy Frenchies! Nom d'un chien!!

 

As the token frog on this forum, I can tell you I have never heard of a Hi Fi plus here. Not a big name by any standards.

 

After been away only for 2 weeks for holiday and come to find the forum seems to have splits itself into two half. What happen? Did I miss anything exciting? Is there really a need to have a totally ABX/DBT free breakaway zone for Zerogain members? Have we finally lost our preculiar sense of dark humour?

I was away in Malaysia or more specificly on the West coast of Sabah. It was totally protected from the Tsumani. I only got news of what happen when a friend phone from Singapore to tell us turn on the news within the hour of what happen. I was going to tell you all the great and wonderful things that we did but given the news of what is happening back there in the region I thought I would let it pass for now.

 

It's not a split but a new venture by Robbo, merlin and Wadia-miester. I'll let them speak to their reasoning allthough it's pretty clear from if you read the two announcements on the hifiplus.org forum.

Michael.

 

I thought I was the token frog

 

This place ain't big enough for the both of us

 

Its certainly not a split, we just wanted to try something different. Theres no reason at all why all of the forums cannot co-exist.

 

I was away over xmas so missed all this. I've now had a look and, frankly, can't see the point. The aim seems to be to create a ZG without the DBT and objectivist contributions, yet there's a thread titled "Strengthening the subjectivist agenda". Presumably I would be unable to contribute to that thread as what I would want to say is probably banned.

Waste of bandwidth I'm afraid.

-- Ian

 

I have the same feeling, Ian. I think it's a place where believers can be believers, without having their beliefs called into question. Fine by me, but not the place for an old and/or deaf cynic such as myself. Pity; when people don't get so worked up about the objectivist/subjectivist business and don't feel that their manhood has been called into question by someone's espousing of a contrary point of view, these discussions can be among the most interesting and illuminating.