AT LAST, A FUN I.T. GLOSSARY; OH, HELL!

At last, a fun IT glossary

The IPKat has taken to dipping into International Technology Law & Business: A Practical Glossary, compiled by lawyer Colm MacKernan and published by Aspatore Books.

Colm practises with the quite original firm of London-based solicitors known as Origin. When he's not writing IT glossaries, he represents high-technology companies on complex contentious and non-contentious international matters. In keeping with his international ethos, he is qualified to practise in England & Wales, the Republic of Ireland, New York and the District of Columbia Bars as well as before various US Federal Courts.

The book itself contains an alphabetical list of terms which include acronyms, general legal terminology, IP- and IT-specific legal terminology and usage which has developed through the exigencies of practice and commerce. Definitions and explanations are succinct and frequently cross-referenced, often helpfully garnished with the addition of the author's sometimes tongue-in-cheek personal take. The IPKat's favourite entries include Easter Bunny, Epistolary Incontinence, the Lake Wobegon Effect and the No-Horse Plaintiff.

Book details: Publication date 2006. ISBN: 1596224053, 312 pages. Price from the publisher's website US$49.95 plus $3.95 shipping. Paperpack. Rupture factor: negligible - this tome is small and lightweight.


Oh, Hell!

The ethos of many a company name depends on how you read it. A perfect example of this is found in today's Telegraph, which reports on a takeover bid for vehicle hire and accident management company Helphire by CVC Capital Partners. The name Helphire is plainly derived from "help-hire", but the IPKat read it as "hel-phire" (= hellfire). He wonders is his readers have any more examples of this phenomenon. If so, please post them below or email to him here.