The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs: | Huh?
Hogwash thats like saying Lindows is the same as Windows, no wait.. it's not.
How does CallVantage sound like Vonage?
Unless Vonage is trying to say Vonage stands for VOIP and that Vantage sounds too much like Vonage.
What Gives? |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
 ·Site5.com
 ·AT&T Midwest
 ·Comcast
| *sigh*
Ok, so the title isn't that catchy...
Still, there is a clear difference between CallVantage and Vonage in the name. I don't see what they have to complain about. These lawsuits are totally dumb.
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My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| reply to The Beer
Re: Huh?
said by The Beer  :
Hogwash thats like saying Lindows is the same as Windows, no wait.. it's not.
How does CallVantage sound like Vonage?
Unless Vonage is trying to say Vonage stands for VOIP and that Vantage sounds too much like Vonage.
What Gives?
Great example! Lindows has nothing to do with Windows. If Microsoft filed a lawsuit, I would think that would be dumb as well. The only winners in this case will be the lawyers.
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My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal |
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | they should sue them for...
sabotaging the VoIP industry. CallDISADVantage straps people with HIGHER rates and contracts that the upstarts have so far avoided.....oh, and did I mention the $60 EARLY TERMINATION fee? Fuck ATT. |
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jersey_born
join:2002-01-02
Hawthorne, NJ
| reply to Nightfall
Another example of PC run a muck
That would explain how I ended up with both services..:D
I agree... the names issue does not matter to geeks like us... but have a look at the mailbag on this website and you might come away with the idea that some people will have trouble with this similarity...
I was a beta tester for AT&Ts Consumer Digital Service [CDS for short] - I think Vonage has it right though I really don't think the argument holds any water... |
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tomkb
Premium
join:2000-11-15
Avon, OH
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
| You all have it wrong
Trust me, I just went through the process of registering a trademark for the first time. What seems a simple enough process is in fact very difficult. In fact, it's very difficult to even name your business without causing some uproar. Based on what I've learned over the past few months, this much I know for sure.
1.) Vonage has a case (IMHO) against AT&T. The underlying question in trademark law is would the average consumer be confused as to the SOURCE of the product or service.
2.) Regarding MS vs Lindows, the reason Microsoft had no case is because the court ruled that the term windows is generic. A generic term offers the least amount of protection. A made up name offers the best protection.
There is really so much more to know, a visit to www.uspto.gov helps explain alot. |
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Stewy85
Premium
join:2003-01-16
Sharon, WI
clubs:
| Imho
I think Vonage is right. It doesn't matter to me but when my parents saw CallVantage they said "Isn't that what you have?" When I actually have Vonage. So to the tech geek it doesn't matter but to the older generation who might be switching it could be a problem.
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010000010100110101000100 |
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Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA
| Vonage Registered their domain after AT&T?
I can't see CallVantage being confusingly similar to Vonage. The only claim of theirs that I think might have merit would be the domain name claim. (And that's ignoring that Vonage's main domain name seems to be Vonage.com.) However checking WHOIS I get the following:
Domain Name: CALLVONAGE.COM
Record created on 26-Feb-2004.
Domain Name: CALLVONTAGE.COM
Created on..............: Tue, Feb 24, 2004
So, unless I'm reading this wrong, Vonage registered their domain name two days after AT&T registered theirs. Almost sounds like Vonage was trying to set up a lawsuit against AT&T there.
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-Jason Levine
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/
http://www.PCQandA.com/
http://www.urateit.com/ |
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Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA
| reply to Nightfall
Re: Huh?
said by Nightfall :
Great example! Lindows has nothing to do with Windows. If Microsoft filed a lawsuit, I would think that would be dumb as well. The only winners in this case will be the lawyers.
Microsoft did file a lawsuit and didn't succeed. (In the US at least. In a few other countries Lindows has to go by a different name or can't be sold at all.)
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-Jason Levine
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/
http://www.PCQandA.com/
http://www.urateit.com/ |
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tomkb
Premium
join:2000-11-15
Avon, OH
clubs: | reply to Jason Levine
Re: Vonage Registered their domain after AT&T?
The first to use it IN COMMERCE usually has the trademark rights to it (including common law). |
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icecold976
join:2002-07-20
Orlando, FL
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| reply to Stewy85
Re: Imho
My parents did the same thing. They got something in the mail and were asking me about it. They said you have CallVantage right? I said no it is Vonage. They said, "Thats what I said Call Vonage". I said. "No they are 2 different companies that are in the same thing".
It say it out loud a little. Us Geeks know the difference, but I would guess 7 outta 10 would think they are the same thing on the street. |
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dinkerdnk
join:2003-02-04
Arlington, TX | Boy are we full of ourselves!!
Give me a freakin break...CallVantage.....Vonage..? WHAT!
Yeah...sounds just like it! |
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72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA | reply to tomkb
Re: You all have it wrong
So if Lindows and had released say, Lindows2000 server or LindowsXP they would in fact be bent over in court? |
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NJChris
PS3 Xbox ID Zzaz
Premium
join:2000-02-08
Pompton Lakes, NJ
| reply to icecold976
Re: Imho
said by icecold976 :
My parents did the same thing. They got something in the mail and were asking me about it. They said you have CallVantage right? I said no it is Vonage. They said, "Thats what I said Call Vonage". I said. "No they are 2 different companies that are in the same thing".
No offense against your parents (mine prob would do this too).. but come on... READ.... difference in letters.. it was pretty basic when we were in 4th grade. They are two different sounding words... People are so lazy today. 
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I know you're talking, but all I hear is Blah Blah Blah... |
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erin1
Premium
join:2002-02-22
Buford, GA
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to Nightfall
Re: *sigh*
Still, there is a clear difference between CallVantage and Vonage in the name. I don't see what they have to complain about. These lawsuits are totally dumb.
Actually Vonage has some truth in this. Vonage and Vantage are too close. Also CallVonage.com and CallVantage.com are ridicously similar so ATT wants to try to trick some customers away i am sure that's the whole purpose!
Also about Lindows and Windows. Note that Windows IS a GENERIC word. That's why windows did not win the case in US, and that "L" in Lindows is too noticeable to be a threat.
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
| reply to The Beer
Re: Huh?
I think it is referring to AT&T buying up the domain www.callvontage.com.
If you are trying to go to www.callvonage.com and you miss type, you could possibly end up at CallVantage. AT&T bought the domain, but pulled the website behind it earlier today. |
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X
join:2003-05-27
Sacramento, CA
| reply to Jason Levine
Re: Vonage Registered their domain after AT&T?
mdaaa... i think youre right jason. but there is another possibility that Vonage gonna redirect visitors from callvonage.com to their own website... so some unsuspecting customers can very well find themselves on vonage.com signing up with another company... so therefore vonage can successfully steal some customers. |
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tunes
join:2002-01-31
Grosse Ile, MI | How about Voipage?
There is a company called voipage.com out there too. Did Vonage sue them? I think it's easier to confuse Voipage and Vonage than CallVantage and Vonage.;) |
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roamer1
sticking it out at you
join:2001-03-24
Atlanta, GA
clubs:
| Not confusing to me...
To me CallVantage and Vonage are "close" but aren't close enough to create confusion.
I know that some other VoIP providers (namely BroadVoice) have taken a lot of cues from Vonage in the way they design their web site; I'm surprised that Vonage isn't going after them too! Others, like VoicePulse, have steered quite clear of "looking like Vonage" and compete on their own merits, like features. 
-SC
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No-Bull SE US Wireless Info: »www.sewireless.info/
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icecold976
join:2002-07-20
Orlando, FL
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| reply to NJChris
Re: Imho
Its more word of mouth.
CallVantage does sound like Vonage and I can see that causing some people to be confused. If I say it out loud a few times and just change something I can easily morph between the two. If the were in a different business not competing with Vonage this would be a non-issue.
I just walked over to someone at work that knows I have Vonage. I asked them have you ever heard of CallVantage, and their response was.... isn't that what you have, why are you asking me..
go figure I have Vonage, but did Beta for ATT's service. |
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