It was not long ago, Techdirt wrote about a company rather brave French who tried to make the logo of Anonymous. Now, Der Spiegel reports that someone wants a German "character" in the "@" (original in German). The company in question has a rather unusual name "@ Tell", where apparently the initials stand for "Tradinghouse exclusive luxury brands." Even if you do not know what is the relationship it seeks to protect the use of the @ sign, different types of luxury products (application in German), including the following:

shoes, hats, belts, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, coffee, tea, tapioca, bread, sugar, honey, syrups, alcoholic beverages (except beers), cigarettes, cigars, lighters and ashtrays

despite this limitation on some luxury items, despite a press release (pdf, in German), emphasizing that the company did not intend to send warning letters to people who use the @ sign in your e-mail, you have to wonder how wise it is to cede control, whatever limited about something as fundamental for the operation of the modern world.



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