Legal Use of the RetroWikipedia Name
Legal Use of the RetroWikipedia™ Name
RetroWikipedia™ is a distinct, independently operated digital archive not affiliated with Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Foundation in any way. This page outlines the legal basis for our use of the name "RetroWikipedia™" under U.S. trademark law and internationally accepted doctrines of nominative fair use.
No Affiliation or Endorsement
RetroWikipedia™ is an initiative of Vanguard Media LLC. We make no claim of endorsement, partnership, or sponsorship from the Wikimedia Foundation. Our mission, governance, editorial standards, and community guidelines are entirely separate and different from those of Wikipedia.
Trademark Context
“Wikipedia” is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation. However, under the Lanham Act and other trademark laws, the mere use of a portion of a registered trademark in a name—especially in a clearly distinguishable, descriptive, and non-confusing context—is not infringement. This is particularly true when three key conditions are met:
- The product or service is not readily identifiable without using the trademarked term.
- Only so much of the mark is used as is reasonably necessary to identify the product or service.
- The use does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder.
These conditions describe what is commonly known as nominative fair use.
RetroWikipedia’s Legal Standing
Our use of the term “RetroWikipedia” qualifies as nominative fair use for the following reasons:
- We use the name descriptively to convey our mission: a Wikipedia-style archive focused specifically on retro computing—something Wikipedia has not adequately supported.
- Our name is visually and contextually distinct. We do not use any of Wikipedia’s logos, branding, templates, or infrastructure.
- We explicitly disclaim affiliation or endorsement on every major page of our site.
- Our editorial stance and technical policies differ significantly (e.g., we allow original research and primary sourcing, which Wikipedia does not).
Consumer Clarity
There is no reasonable likelihood of confusion among informed users. RetroWikipedia is clearly branded, mission-specific, and openly critical of the editorial limitations of Wikipedia. In fact, part of our rationale for existing is the editorial exclusion and gatekeeping often found on that platform.
International Precedent
Similar legal standards for nominative use and fair competition exist in jurisdictions such as the European Union, Canada, and Australia. RetroWikipedia’s branding and disclaimers were designed with international standards in mind.
Summary
We respect the Wikimedia Foundation’s trademark rights, and we take no action that would dilute, infringe, or misuse their marks. At the same time, we assert our right to:
- Use descriptive, non-confusing naming,
- Establish our own independent project,
- Critique and respond to the editorial void left by Wikipedia’s exclusion of retro computing history.
We are committed to lawful, principled use of the RetroWikipedia name—and to defending the right to preserve digital history on our own terms.
This page is provided for transparency and community understanding. It does not constitute legal advice, nor does it waive any rights of Vanguard Media LLC.