Garry, mate:Here's the difference between countries you asked
me to prove.
In the U.K. - " "Car", "hotel", "computer", "accountants", cannot
function as trademarks because they are the common commercial names of goods or services
and cannot identify the goods or services of one source and distinguish them from
those of another. If they are included as part of a trademark, i.e. HYATT HOTELS,
APPLE COMPUTERS they must be "disclaimed"."
http://www.lott-friedland.com/articles/fundamentals_of_trademark_law.htm
In
the U.S., such generic words CAN be trademarked, as long as there's only one company
using that name in a particular industry. So Apple Compuer can trademark Apple,
and no other computer company can use Apple. Another type of company can use
Apple, though.
Worldwide, there is still a difference between the legal systems
in the old British Commonwealth countries and the countries whose law is based on
the Napoleanic Code. The common law countries include U.K., Canada, United States,
Hong Kong, India, and parts of Africa, essentially the British Empire. Civil Code
countries include primarily Europe and Latin America. In the Common Law countries,
trademark ownership is based on use. The first to use a trademark owns it. In Civil
Code countries, ownership is based upon REGISTRATION.
Here's another example of
how trademarks in different countries are treated differently. U.S. trademarks
receive preferable treatment in the U.S., and trademarks registered in other countries
are not considered equivalent. Section 526 (Title 19, U.S. Code, Section 1526)
reads: "[I]t shall be unlawful to import into the United States any merchandise of
foreign manufacture if such merchandise, or the label, sign, print, package, wrapper,
or receptacle, bears a trademark owned by a citizen of, or by a corporation or association
created, or organized within, the United States, and registered in the Patent and
Trademark office by a person domiciled in the United States ... unless written consent
of the owner of such a trademark is produced at the time of making entry."
http://www.ipmall.fplc.edu/hosted_resources/TM_Lever_Rules_Hennessey_99.htm
BTW
... In the USA, an ISP is a service provider and is not liable for the content posted
on or through it. In Great Britain, ISPs are considered PUBLISHERS. For
example, Demon got sued for slander for something one of its users posted through
it. http://www.gigalaw.com/articles/morris-2000-06-p3.html
So
since you're in Britain, Garry, your service providers can be sued for irresponsible
statements you make. I pity them.