The often critical content of Robert Collins' World Wide Web site, above, isn't the problem says Intel. It's the altered logo, right, which the company says is artwork it has a right to protect.

On-line spoof has 'tarnished' logo, claims unamused chipmaker Published July 26, 1996 Associated Press BY CATALINA ORTIZ Associated Press Staff Writer Collins thought Intel Corp. might be miffed by his Web site that reveals undisclosed details of the company's computer chips. And was right - but not for the reason he expected.

Intel wants Collins to stop using a spoof of its company logo on his site. The world's largest chipmaker argues that Collins has "tarnished" its logo, a valuable property it says it must protect.

But Collins, a Texas computer Chip design engineer, says his takeoff is legitimate.

"It's a parody," he said Thursday. There also is a disclaimer and marked differences between the logos, which he said ensure that viewers understand he has no connection with Intel.

Collins has maintained his site, "Intel Secrets: What Intel Doesn't Want You to Know," on the Internet's World Wide Web for the past year. The site - http:://www.x86.org - offers information on errors in Intel's industry-leading chips and gives programming tips.

The content of the Web site - information that can be obtained legitimately from working with the chips - isn't the issue, Intel said. It's what Collins did with Intel's logo, a distinctive arrangement of letters in the company's name.

"Our view is he's tarnished that logo," said Chuck Mulloy, a spokesman for Santa Clara-based Intel.

The company's logo is the word "intel" in lower-case with the "e" dipped below the other letters. Collins' "intel seerets" logo uses the same typeface as Intel but reverses the letter "e" and puts over the word the international symbol of a red circle with a line across it. It also puts the word "secrets" in the same typeface and dips the first "e."

Collins' argument that his logo is just a parody - a fair use of the symbol - doesn't work, Mulloy said. While people can properly parody company's name, he said, they cannot properly parody a logo, which is considered artwork.

"The issue here is it's just like any other piece of property. And it's our obligation to protect Intel property," Mulloy said. "And if we don't take active steps to protect it, we could lose our legal rights."

Intel, which has its own site at http://www.intel.com, does not intend to go after Collins for alleged trademark violation, he said. But it does intend to fight his application to trademark his "Intel Secrets" logo.

Collins, who works for Texas Instruments Inc, in Dallas, points out he already has changed his logo at Intel's request. But Intel said the changes don't go far enough.

Originally Collins just used his version of the words "intel secrets." He later added the red circle, the disclaimer and "Intel Absolutely Not Inside," a jab at the company's "Intel Inside" phrase.

Collins is not optimistic that he'll be able to fend off Intel's legal opposition to his trademark application. He does think, however, that he and the company eventually will reach some kind of agreement.

But the company might regret it because he'd relish putting "a lot more satire" about Intel on his Web site, he warned.

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