I think I might have a problem.

[GabrielsThoughts]

http://www.gregholland.com/valiant/issue.asp?cn=1269

apperently there already is a comic with the intitials NIO, which I dicovered about five minutes ago, it looks japanese, and I have no idea what the intitials stand nor any clue what I would re-name the comic if I was planning on publishing it in the future. I'm not even sure which forum I should be posting this in. Any help or suggestions will be helpfull

I've concidered the title GRiLLED as an alternate title with a little 'i' with or a crop circle or something

[Damaris]

Titles are not copywritten, and most certainly not initial sets.  What are you planning on calling your comic, exactly?  Because if you call it one thing, you cannot possibly help what other people shorten it to.

[techmaster-glitch]

Not Intentionally Obsessive...that is the name of his art thread for said comic, is it not?

[superluser]

Titles are not copywritten

But they can be trademarked.  In fact, NIO is a registered trademark for a few markets, but not for a comic.  Be aware, however, that this may be an unregistered trademark.  I know precious little about that type of trademark.

[techmaster-glitch]

Really, we are talking about an acronym. You can't copywrite or tardemark acronyms. Why? Because I once put in a Wikipedia search for DMFA and got alot of different results, none of them were actually Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures. So as long as they stand for something different, you can have similar acronyms.

[Darkmoon]

That's not true. You can Trademark an acronym. However, a trademark is only enforceable within the given confines of your business type. A business that makes thumbtacks exclusively (as a weird example) under the name NIO could have that trademark for all thumbtack business under the name NIO. However, someone else, like a comic artist, can use the initials of NIO without it being the same trademark, as their not in the same business market.

[superluser]

That's not true. You can Trademark an acronym. However, a trademark is only enforceable within the given confines of your business type. A business that makes thumbtacks exclusively (as a weird example) under the name NIO could have that trademark for all thumbtack business under the name NIO. However, someone else, like a comic artist, can use the initials of NIO without it being the same trademark, as their not in the same business market.

Yup.

NIO is a registered trademark of PPL TRADING INC., where it is used for paper products, namely, toilet paper, paper towel, paper napkin and facial paper.

NIO seems to have also been a registered trademark of Barco, where it was used for display screens.  It seems that they have allowed it to lapse, but both trademarks seem to have existed simultaneously.

[Darkmoon]

And treademarks require the rights holder to enforce it. There's no felony-style illegality to violating a traemark. You only can be sued for it.

[Damaris]

Just don't use the initials yourself.  Like I said, you cannot possibly be responsible for the way your readers shorten the comic name.  (And snarky Mr. Techmaster: If I kept track of all the comic threads and their names, I'd be Llearch.  There was no reason to be rude.  I'd suggest seeing a doctor for that stick.)

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Just don't use the initials yourself.  Like I said, you cannot possibly be responsible for the way your readers shorten the comic name.  (And snarky Mr. Techmaster: If I kept track of all the comic threads and their names, I'd be Llearch.  There was no reason to be rude.  I'd suggest seeing a doctor for that stick.)

Bwahahahahahaha! ;-]

(Although, technically it's llearch, not Llearch...)

[Omega]

I'd suggest seeing a doctor for that stick.)

*takes a look at the stick*

Don't worry. It'll fall off in few days.

But lemme write you a description just in case.

[superluser]

Just don't use the initials yourself.  Like I said, you cannot possibly be responsible for the way your readers shorten the comic name.

Well, technically, you...

*Sees Damaris warming up her eye beams--revises the remainder of the sentence*

...should talk to your own lawyer before trusting any legal advice that you read on internet forums.