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.
I avoid them in scholarly writing and editing unless (as sometimes
happens) the author says her employer requires them and will raise
a stink if they don't appear.
Journalists usually avoid them, too, partly to avoid giving free
plugs and partly, I suspect, to "give the bird" to a corporation.
In corporate writing, such as manuals and brochures, I used to
cite the appropriate trademark symbol upon the first reference
and omit it thereafter. Somewhere in the front matter -- it's a
good use for a flyleaf or an inside front cover -- I'd list the
trademarks and their owners. For example:
Tinwhistle and the Tinwhistle logo [the logo, on the cover,
would also count as a first ref] are registered trademarks,
and Tinmodem V9600B is a trademark, of Tinwhistle Computer
Products, Inc.
Banana Jr. and the Banana logo are registered trademarks of
Bloom County Micro, Inc.
This scheme had been designed or at least blessed by the lawyers,
which the company was exceptionally fond of and employed in abundance.