Notice Regarding the Use of the Term Mars Steel
Two Planet Steel frequently uses the term Mars Steel. What do we mean by this? As stated on our website: “Mars Steel is a new kind of steel designed specifically for production on Mars.” Our company is centered around the planet Mars and plans for steel production on-planet.
There is another company that uses Mars Steel to refer to a line of military-grade steel. Industeel is now a subsidiary of the steelmaking company ArcelorMittal. Back in 2013, when Induststeel was an independent company, the French company trademarked this logo:
In this case, the letters M-A-R-S have nothing to do with that planet or production on Mars.
12 years after obtaining the trademark, Industeel’s parent company ArcelorMittal is using the term “Mars®” in a way that is not aligned with their trademark rights. Their trademark is not on the word “Mars” itself, but on the specific stylized logo, also known as a Special Form Drawing (USPTO code 5). Consequently, their registered trademark does not cover the plain text “Mars” or “Mars Steel”(see the USPTO’s TMEP).
This misuse can be observed on their website in several different locations. For example:
“Mars® steels can be also delivered in a perforated version with holes evenly distributed within the surface to interact with the diameter of the incoming threat.” (https://industeel.arcelormittal.com/product/protection-steels/.)
The term Mars, when used by ArcelorMittal, refers to a line of protective military-grade steels – materials used in armored vehicles and defense applications. Contrary to what the name implies, their products have nothing to do with the planet Mars or future plans to use their products there.
When Two Planet Steel refers to Mars Steel, we are talking about a very different context. Our Mars Steel is made specifically for use on Mars. For clarity, our use of the term Mars Steel refers only to our innovative steel that can be made on Mars and has applications on that planet.