* * * * *

                 Clueless lawyers? Or subtle marketing trick?

> The following web link activities are explicitly prohibited by KPMG and may
> present trademark and copyright infringement issues:
>
>
>
> * Links that involve unauthorized use of our logo
> * Framing, inline links or metatags
> * Hyperlinks or a form of link that disguises the URL and bypass the
>   homepage
>

Via MetaGrrrl [1], Global Legal Disclaimer [2]

Am I now going to get a notice to remove the link [3]? Oooh, I do so much
want one. AutoZone [4] didn't seem to have a complaint about my linking to
them [5] but then again, I'm not using their logo.

And in the case of KPMG [6] there, since I'm not using their logo ( … must …
resist … urge … to link … to … their … logo … ) and I'm not disguising the
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and bypassing their homepage (I am bypassing
their homepage up there, but I'm not disguising the URL) so the only thing
left is that rather cryptic bit about “inline links,” whatever they mean by
that.

Also in their disclaimer, they say “KPMG is obligated to protect its
reputation and trademarks and KPMG reserves the right to request removal of
any link to our website.” Yup. You (KPMG) have that right, but that's all you
have. You're trashing your own reputation on the web just fine—you don't need
anyone else to help you there.

[1] http://www.metagrrrl.com/metagrrrl/index.html
[2] http://www.kpmg.com/disclaimer.html
[3] http://chris.raettig.org/email/jnl00036.html
[4] http://www.autozone.com/
[5] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2001/11/09.1
[6] http://www.kpmg.com/

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