Author: Parris (modem-77-104-60-62.vip.uk.com)
Date: 06-11-2001 16:21
It's a strange thing isn't it, that the answer to the above question may have been posted onto the Net just 2 days before I came across the evidence from a very, very different source!!!
The clue lay in a heading on THIS VERY SITE'S home page, which I really should read more often... (Sorry Atari.Org)
So, the heading linked us to the following information found at the listed site below.
http://www.keepitretro.com/index.php?story=01/06/08/2475401
Having read through my posting (made just yesterday) and the information above, it is perhaps better news than one might expect! Sources are indicating that 'Infogrames', having bought 'Hasbro Interactive' were making a direct bid for the name ATARI in order to obtain a better position for themselves within the USA market. Having faced losses for 2 yrs (Still no idea whether that was Hasbro or Infogrames) the name ATARI is being used to turn this around as it is a very well known brand. Not only that, it is rumoured (and here I am VERY surprised) that Infogrames is going to re-name itself as ATARI... Possibly within the next few months.
How that helps the Atari market itself is still as clear as mud, it's more like some failing actress changing her name to 'Marlyn Monroe' in the vain hope that she'll be able to ride that ticket (okay, not quite, but you can see what I mean).
It will however reposition the name ATARI, and make it a current brand name rather than a retrospective one.
The implications are fairly far reaching, could indeed mean that we'll all have to re-think precisely what copyright is help on what ATARI products. Can anyone tell us precisely what was bought, what rights other than the brand name. People copying Atari software onto the Net might find themselves under a bit of scrutiny too I'd imagine, if Infogrames bought licences too?!
Oh, things are a changing....
Parris.
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