Specifications

(Ping’s are an endangered species)
is unfortunately all too true. And
therefore, surrounded by a majority
of “not so Ping like” individuals, it’s
all too easy to forget.
I’d just like you to know, that the
day after I read your editorial, I was
confronted with not one, but in fact,
several situations where I had to
decide between doing what would
have been acceptable, or what was
really the right thing to do. In each
case, I choose the latter. Needless to
say, I felt much better about myself.
And for that, the credit must go to
you. Oh, and to your wife as well.
Ginger Talasco
New York
Sued By AAA
I just wanted to commend Greg
Mango on his Mango’s Message
editorial in
the March 1996 issue of
The National Locksmith, about the
American Automobile Association
(AAA). You did your research pretty
well on the things that you wrote
about. I thought that since I had been
in a lawsuit with AAA, you might
want to add some information if
someone calls you for advice.
First, I might point out that AAA
requested the trademark back in
1902 not 1965. I point this out only
because it could be misleading for
someone who started their business
before this date, which could give
them first right by law, and would
have the right to the name AAA.
Also, where you state and I quote
“Should the business have been
AAA Roofing, or AAA Carpet, or
AAA Florist, goods or services AAA
does not provide, AAA would not,
and could not have taken this
action” you are wrong in this
statement. On the “Principal
Register Service Mark” it list only
the letters AAA, and it is these 3
letters that is registered as the
trademark and is not to be used. It
does not matter what words follow
after the letters AAA, nor the
service you provide.
I would say however, your
advice to change the company name
from AAA Locksmith is very good
advice. The only way to beat AAA
in court is to prove AAA knew your
company was in business for over 7
years and did not take action
against you. That is almost
impossible for one to do unless one
has a receipt and canceled check
with a number from AAA.
In my case, I found that no-one,
and I mean no-one, will help you to
fight against AAA, and that includes
any of the associations. I was lucky I
had insurance that paid my legal fees
to the tune of 40 some thousand
dollars. Robert Thompson
Colorado
Editors Note: Mr. Thompson is correct.
The American Automobile Association did
make a trademark request for the AAA
designation back in 1902, however, the
trademark was not granted and awarded
until 1965. Also, if any company uses the
sacred “AAA” designation in their name,
no matter what services it provides, it can
be sued for trademark infringement.
Recently, the American Automobile
Association sued “AAA Legal Services”, a
law firm in Washington, DC, for trademark
infringement and won. I can’t impress
upon you enough that if your company
name includes AAA, you are positioning
yourself in the crosshairs of a high
powered rifle. If the American Automobile
Association decides to pull the trigger,
you’re going to lose. —Greg Mango,
Managing Editor
12 • The National Locksmith
Continued from page 10
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