Steve in SLO
12-12-2013, 03:57 PM
Specialized is suing the estate of Edgar Purnell Hooley for having patented tarmacadam, or tar-penetration macadam in 1901.
The suit states in part:
"The unfortunate choice of "Tarmacadam" for Mr Hooley's invention was difficult to pronounce and led to confusion with sometime-tragic results (For details see Appendix B: Use of Macadamia nuts for road surfaces leads to mass road-kills of parrots in Hawaii, and Appendix C: Macaroon-paved highway disappears overnight; local residents deny knowledge but want milk.)
As a direct result of this irresponsible trade term, the contraction "Tarmac" was forced into the lexicon of the lay public, which dilutes the trademark of Tarmac by Specialized BC."
In a related story, CNN has been served a C&D order to prevent reporters from using the phrase "stranded on the tarmac" in future reports.
The suit states in part:
"The unfortunate choice of "Tarmacadam" for Mr Hooley's invention was difficult to pronounce and led to confusion with sometime-tragic results (For details see Appendix B: Use of Macadamia nuts for road surfaces leads to mass road-kills of parrots in Hawaii, and Appendix C: Macaroon-paved highway disappears overnight; local residents deny knowledge but want milk.)
As a direct result of this irresponsible trade term, the contraction "Tarmac" was forced into the lexicon of the lay public, which dilutes the trademark of Tarmac by Specialized BC."
In a related story, CNN has been served a C&D order to prevent reporters from using the phrase "stranded on the tarmac" in future reports.