If I create software that includes a list of products manufactured by other companies, am I legally allowed to mention those products or would this be considered copywrite infringement?
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If I create software that includes a list of products manufactured by other companies, am I legally allowed to mention those products or would this be considered copywrite infringement?
I have a legal question relating to creating software that includes a list of products manufactured by other companies that I am not affiliated with. I want to create a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and sell it online. The spreadsheet will help user select an appropriate building product from known manufacturers. New Link Destination
be more precise, suppliers that manufacture lintels for building construction. I want to allow users of my software to select between products from these manufacturers (e.g. Ancon lintel SC9). In the software I intend to clearly state the manufacturer of the lintels the user can chose from. The user can then go to that manufacturer/supplier to purchase the product he selected in my software. Can I mention products by others r would this be copyright infringement, etc.? I guess it is something like writing a paid post about cars and mentioning manufacturers by name. Maybe I am only require to include a footnote that the product names are property of this and that? Or just type and symbols where applicable?
Asked on September 12, 2019 under Business Law, Alaska
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
You are allowed to mention others' products and provide information about them. You have to make clear that these are others' products, not yours, and you can't use any actual trademarkes of theirs--for example, you can write "Microsoft" but cannot use that little four-colored-square symbol of theirs and should not write "Microsoft" in the font their use.
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