body: You often see websites or documents (user manuals, in particular) stating something similar to:
  
  
  
  > 
  > This program is compatible with the Windows(R) operating system.  
  > 
  >  ...  
  > 
  >  Windows is a registered trade mark of Microsoft.
  > 
  > 
  > 
  
  
  or
  
  
  
  > 
  > Intel(R) Core(TM) i7(TM) processors which feature the BLAH instruction...
  > 
  > 
  > 
  
  
  Alright, so *someone* has a trade mark on some more or less interesting thing, sometimes registered and sometimes not registered, whatever.
  
  
  *Someone else* writes something which is not related to the product directly or influences the product or its marketing, nor is it competitive or uses the name for advertising, and in my understanding no rights or imagined rights are infringed in any way. In other words, I'd say: *"who cares!"*.
  
  
  Among this class of statements are also some that say e.g. *"belong to their respective owners"*. Well yes, things *usually* belong to their owner. What about it?
  
  
  Apparently, the vast majority of people seems, for some reason, to have a different opinion. Apparently, it is necessary to state the obvious.
  
  
  What is the point (or legal reason?) for such in my opinion silly disclaimers? Even moreso, as the notices often include "and others", which implies that you admit you didn't list them all, and you are aware that you didn't (which in my opinion makes the problem, if there is one, worse).
  
  
  
title: What is the legal base / requirement (if any) for trade mark notes?