@replicatorblog - i don't think you're going to find a lawyer that will go on record saying "uses the same plastic as LEGO" is the same as "TangiBot is a MakerBot clone" "TangiBot is a MakerBot knock-off" "TangiBot is the same quality because it's a MakerBot clone"... if you had someone look at a LEGO and a makerbot, they're clearly different called different things, marketed different.
LEGO is very good about their trademark, if there was any issue with makerbot saying "same plastic used for LEGOs" they would have been told not to ever say that. if you're really interested to know for sure, email me and we'll both email LEGO.
if you could show makerbot's usage of LEGO with a specific link that would be helpful too.
please keep in mind the company that the creator of the tangibot promoted as his previous job and current group of experts he's working with did sue people for using the name "Cricut"..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricut#Third_party_software
"Provo Craft has been active to resist the use of third-party software programs that could enable Cricut owners to cut out designs and to use the machine without depending on its proprietary cartridges.... Provo Craft also asserted that Craft Edge were violating its trademark in the word "Cricut" by saying that its software could work with Cricut machines. Provo Craft asserted that this was likely "to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the source or origin of Defendant's goods or services, and [was] likely to falsely suggest a sponsorship, connection, license, or association of Defendant's goods and services with Provo Craft"
if anyone saw the tangibot anywhere they'd assume it was a makerbot... and lastly, i don't think tangibot could even get their name trademarked for what they're doing, but a lawyer could weigh in on that perhaps.
i'm not a makerbot owner, but i did back the tangibot.
"back the tangibot"? Pledging the minimum to a project that you hoped would fail(and thus owe nothing) is the same kind of backing that the Senate gave Caeser.
@SiCarbide - i made suggestions to make it better (not use makerbot's name / go against kickstarters #1 rule, etc) the creator has not only updated the kickstarter, tangibot specially said thanks for helping out, tangibot changed the kickstarter as per kickstarter's request too. it's now getting more backers than before.
LEGO is very good about their trademark, if there was any issue with makerbot saying "same plastic used for LEGOs" they would have been told not to ever say that. if you're really interested to know for sure, email me and we'll both email LEGO.
if you could show makerbot's usage of LEGO with a specific link that would be helpful too.
please keep in mind the company that the creator of the tangibot promoted as his previous job and current group of experts he's working with did sue people for using the name "Cricut"..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricut#Third_party_software "Provo Craft has been active to resist the use of third-party software programs that could enable Cricut owners to cut out designs and to use the machine without depending on its proprietary cartridges.... Provo Craft also asserted that Craft Edge were violating its trademark in the word "Cricut" by saying that its software could work with Cricut machines. Provo Craft asserted that this was likely "to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the source or origin of Defendant's goods or services, and [was] likely to falsely suggest a sponsorship, connection, license, or association of Defendant's goods and services with Provo Craft"
if anyone saw the tangibot anywhere they'd assume it was a makerbot... and lastly, i don't think tangibot could even get their name trademarked for what they're doing, but a lawyer could weigh in on that perhaps.
i'm not a makerbot owner, but i did back the tangibot.