In their last email to me, Games Workshop stated that they believe that their recent entrée into the e-book market gives them the common law trademark for the term “space marine” in all formats. If they choose to proceed on that belief, science fiction will lose a term that’s been a part of its canon since its inception. Space marines were around long before Games Workshop. But if GW has their way, in the future, no one will be able to use the term “space marine” without it referring to the space marines of the Warhammer 40K universe.
Crosspost: http://fanhackers.tumblr.com/post/42497647234/in-their-last-email-to-me-games-workshop-stated
[QUOTE] From In the Future, All Space Marines Will Be Warhammer 40K Space Marines M.C.A. Hogarth on GW claiming common law trademark on the term ‘space marines’ (via transformativeworks)