"I'm often asked... sometimes asked... somebody asked me once..."
- Michael Flanders, At the Drop of a Hat.
Who owns the "Eastercon" trademark?
The trademark is owned by Harry Payne. That would be me.
Why?
The Wikipedia article on Eastercons puts it quite nicely when it says the trademark was taken out in "a momentary lack of disorganisation". The other phrase which fits is, "It seemed like a good idea at the time", with rumours of commercial convention companies regarding Eastercons with hungry and envious eyes, something nasty in the woodshed, and propeller beanies capable of being launched at only 45 minutes' notice.
Do people running Eastercons have to get permission to use the trademark?
Yes.
Isn't this rather officious and bureaucratic?
No. In practice, getting permission tends to be a verbal conversation on the lines of: "May we?" "Yes". There's no official contract, and very few terms and conditions.
What are the terms and conditions?
One of the convention's publications must state that: "Eastercon is a registered trade mark and is used with permission". Whoever's in charge of publications gets to pick which one. That's it, as far as I'm concerned.
Do people writing about Eastercons, or thinking of running one, have to get permission to use the trademark?
No. That would be very officious and bureaucratic, and I have no desire to see my name in Private Eye under the heading: "What an utterly pathetic way to make a living".
When does the trademark expire, and what will happen then?
The trademark expires in April 2013. I'll remind everyone of this at the 2012 Eastercon, point out that it's going to cost to renew it, and if enough people think that's a good idea, I'll pass the hat around.
And if they don't think it's a good idea?
Then the trademark lapses, and we take our chances on somebody else picking it up.
What happens to the trademark if you die?
It passes to someone in UK fandom, named specifically in my will, with a charge that they name their replacement in their will.
And that would be...?
Telling.