>>SR> Excuse me for butting in, but Windows 97 NEVER will be
 >>SR> invented, Microsoft will not be using numbers in names
 >>SR> anymore. They cannot be copyrighted.
 >>BD> Where did you get that?  My company holds copyrights
 >>BD> on several products which have numbers in the names.
 > It all depends on whether or not your company cares or are
 > concerned about competitive products or producers.
As by now, you should have received my first message.  You are incorrect.
Anything (for all intents and purposes) that is in tangible form can be 
copyrighted.  In fact, as of hmmmmm 1981 (I believe) it is automatically 
copyrighted.  You do not need to register to have protection.  However, the 
level of protection is a little greater if you register it.
Names of products are NOT copyrighted.  They are Trademarked or Trade
Named. Furthermore, numbers as part of the trademark/trade name CAN be 
protected.  I know this as a fact.  Windows 3.1 is trademarked.  Windows 95 
is trademarked, and thus both are protected.
Nintendo has a trademark--registered and protected--of "N64."  If you do not 
believe me, open up a web site using N64 on your web site leading people to 
believe the Nintendo of American Inc. sponsors or otherwise approves of your 
web site.  In a short time, you will receive a letter from the Intellectual 
Property law firm that handle's Nintendo's intellectual property.  You will 
be asked to cease and desist--and the U.S. government will be behind that 
letter 100%.  In fact, when you receive that letter, look at who the typist 
is.  You just *might* recognize the initials of "lrk."  Yep.  Me.  I have 
worked on several such letters.  I *know* that numbers can be trademarked.
Not only do I work for the
law firm that happens to handle Nintendo's intellectual property, but I am 
intimately acquainted with the law firm handling Microsoft's intellectual 
property.
I *know* of what I speak.  Numbers can be included in a trademark, service 
mark, or trade name.  They can and ARE protected.
Please check with an Intellectual Property attorney before spouting off about 
a topic which you are not knowledgeable.
This is verging on a official Moderator Warning.  This thread has not much to 
do with Word.  Let's drop it.
        Lawrence,
        Moderator, MS_WORD
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