Trademarks Trademarks are words, names, or symbols used to identify a product or a service. Owning a trademark doesn't mean that you own the actual words associated with the trademark claim (although Eastman Kodak and Xerox Corporation might disagree). The trademark only bestows ownership of a word or phrase within a certain context, such as the word windows within the context of the computer industry. Trademarks are important in the world of graphics file formats. CompuServe owns the trademark "GIF"; Adobe (and formerly Aldus) owns the trademark "TIFF"; and Microsoft owns the trademark "RIFF". You get the idea. Terms you should know You should be familiar with the following terms used in the trademark field: Assignment – an arrangement by which a trademark owner transfers ownership of the mark. In many countries, an assignment is invalid unless it includes the goodwill of the business symbolized by the mark. Some countries have other formal requirements, such as the recordation of the assignment with the Trademark Office, and may impose a transfer tax. Counterfeit – a spurious mark that is identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from, a registered mark, or non-genuine goods or services. Substantial criminal and civil penalties may be levied against those who intentionally traffic in counterfeit goods or goods bearing counterfeit marks. Dilution – a term primarily used in the United States to refer to the unauthorized use of a famous mark by another in a manner that tends to blur the mark’s distinctiveness or tarnish its image even if it does not create a likelihood of confusion. For example, if a disreputable bar adopted the mark ROLLS ROYCE, thereby capitalizing on or disparaging the unique name of the automobile, dilution laws might permit a court to prohibit that use – even if there were no likelihood of confusion that the service was provided by the owner of the famous ROLLS ROYCE mark. Goodwill – the intangible asset of a company consisting of the reputation of that company or its product resulting from association of a trademark with that company or product that provides added value to a company’s worth (such as a recognizable brand). Protection of goodwill is one of the main purposes of trademark law. Gray Market Goods – genuine trademarked articles (not counterfeits) that are only authorized for distribution in a particular country, but are diverted for sale into a different country. Gray market goods may or may not be physically different from local goods, and the legality of gray market goods is a controversial issue. Infringement – the use of a mark so similar to another’s mark for the same or related goods or services that confusion, mistake or deception is likely to occur. Courts protect marks against infringement and may issue injunctions, compensate the owner for damages, take away the infringer’s profits, award attorney’s fees, and even order goods to be seized or recalled from the market and destroyed. Some jurisdictions also offer criminal remedies. Licensing – an agreement by which a trademark owner permits another party to use a trademark. Licenses may include a variety of terms such as requiring periodic payments and limiting the ability of the licensor to grant licenses to other parties. A license is invalid in many countries unless the owner has the right to – and actually does – control the nature and quality of the goods or services of the licensee. Some countries require licenses to be recorded, or licensees to be officially entered as Registered Users, and many countries impose a withholding tax on trademark royalties paid to a foreign licensor. Trade Dress – the packaging or design of a product. Consumers may be guided by the product’s familiar look rather than the words on it, in which case the product’s trade dress can be protected like any other trademark. In some countries, packaging trade dress may be entitled to immediate protection and registration under trademark law. However, product design can generally only be protected or registered after a period of exclusive use and promotion. Trade Name – the name used by a company in its business activities. Also known as a “commercial name,” a company’s trade name may also be its corporate name, and it may or may not also be used as a trademark. An officially approved corporate name can be used on legal documents, but if it infringes another’s trade name, trademark or service mark, it cannot be used in ordinary trade.

Businesses are in business to make money. But calculating the true value of any project (Lean Six Sigma or otherwise) with respect to its impact on margin has always been challenging, mainly due to the ambiguity of turning notions into dollar values. For instance, it is clear that training employees will improve expertise and productivity, but how does that translate to bottom-line savings or revenue growth? Spending thousands of dollars on automated systems and software is likely to improve work efficiency, but what’s the dollar-value improvement of that efficiency? Return on investment (ROI) is a key calculation in answering these questions, as well as showing the project value and its impact on the margin.

To format your hard disk during Windows 7 installation, you'll need to start, or boot, your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive. Turn on your computer so that Windows starts normally, insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, and then shut down your computer.