Don't forget, commerce does include when you make something FOR the government as well.
Heck, UPS has a trademark on the color brown.
They have a trademark on the color brown, a specific shade, only on their trucks and clothing. Oh and they MUST use the word brown as part of their trademark to keep this specific trademark. Again, you guys making it look like the big greedy money grubbing corporations are taking your colors away too. Maybe they will trademark the word "car" next and you'll have to walk to work.
The whole reason they have trade - marks (notice what the word breaks down to) is to identify YOU as the company that spends money on marketing and tries to create an image for yourself without someone trying to fly off your coat tails.
When you become a business owner you'll understand a lot more about trademarks and will respect them much better knowing that it's not that easy for someone to just come in and steal your brand image that you worked so hard to create. You guys make it seem that all these trademark laws effecting these RC companies is something new, they are not. They big aviation companies are getting tougher because a lot of people are making LOTS of money and they deserve a piece of the action. Also, they want to maintain integrity in the shape of what someone calls a P-38 and it's overall representation.
I think the companies are really after the plastic model mfg.....they sell a TON more models that GP/Sig/etc. have ever sold!
They are not going after anyone. They are going after their intellectual property. They don't care if you are mom and pop in garage or Revell models, all equal treatment. They typically don't charge a royalty based on your volume sold.