TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: References to previous company names From:"Kathi Jan Knill" <Kathi -dot- Knill -at- template -dot- com> To:"Linda Sims" <lsims -at- dset -dot- com>, "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 26 Oct 1999 13:55:35 -0400
Linda,
You say that a company recently changed its name due to acquisition. Why
then would you ever want to use the old name? After an acquisition the old
name refers to a company that does not exist. If you are afraid that some
older clients will be confused, then you might be able to get away with
saying something like: "CompanyA (formerly known as Noncompany) produces
65% more widgets...." where you refer to its former name.
Having said that, I would guess that there are some legal issues that lurk
under this question. I'm not a lawyer, but I seriously think you should
check this question with the legal department of the company you work for.
If there is no "legal dept." because the company is small, check with the
COO. I don't believe this question is a matter of what is right or wrong
from a writing sense.
Just mho,
Kathi Knill
Sr. Technical Writer
Template Software, Inc.
Kathi -dot- Knill -at- Template -dot- com
Great things are only possible with outrageous requests.
~ Thea Alexander ~
----- Original Message -----
From: Linda Sims <lsims -at- dset -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 11:30 AM
Subject: References to previous company names
: OK, here's the situation.
:
: 1. We're writing manuals that refer to a company that recently (in
: the last year) changed its name due to its acquisition by another
: company.
: 2. One of our writers left that company for ours within the last 4
: months. We are told that the newly named company uses _both_
: names within its own documentation (presumably not in the same
: document).
:
: Do we use the old name or the new name when referring to them?
: My personal opinion is to go for the new name unless we're
: referencing a product made prior to the name change.
:
: TIA
:
: Linda Sims
: Technical Writer
: ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
: DSET Corporation
: 1160 US Highway 22
: Bridgewater, NJ 08807
: (v) 908-526-7500, ext. 1278
: (f) 908-526-7008
: ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
: Delivering Global TMN Solutions for a Converging World
: Web Site: http://www.dset.com
:
: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: Sponsored by Weisner Associates Inc., Online Information Services
: Moving your documentation online? We can help with standards, planning,
: or training. Visit us at http://www.weisner.com or mailto:info -at- weisner -dot- com -dot-
:
: Sponsored by Rose Hill, Your Business and Career Coach.
: "Assume Success! Live Your Passion!" Get the gist at
: www.coachrose.com then call 503.629.4804 for details!
:
: ---
: You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: Kathi -dot- Knill -at- TEMPLATE -dot- COM
: To unsubscribe send a blank email to
$subst('Email.Unsub')
: Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
: http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
