WWCalc

Former Home of WWCalc

This program is no longer available at the demand of the Weight Watchers International Legal Department. Following is the sequence of correspondence that preceeded the removal of WWCalc.

On February 2, 2002 I wrote to Linda Huett, President and CEO of Weight Watchers, in an effort to continue the enhancement and distribution of WWCalc to WW members. You can see that letter here. You can see the Weight Watcher response here.

You can still view the current documentation here in HTML or download it as a PDF or Microsoft Word file.

The Wired Magazine article on WWCalc may be viewed here.

New: The WWCalc FAQ can be viewed here. (This is a work in progress)

X-POP3-Rcpt: bwit@ruffboy.com
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Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 15:54:05 -0500
From: "Legal" <Legal@weight-watchers.com>
To: <bwit@pobox.com>
Subject: WWCalc-Calculator and Journal on PalmGear.com

Dear Mr. Withers,

It has come to our attention that you have developed and sell software downloads on the www.palmgear.com website that utilize our trademarks and patent.

The WWCalc-Calculator and Journal on PalmGear.com makes use of our patented POINTS® process for calculating the value of foods by means of a patented formula, which has been given patent protection in the United States Patent Office and elsewhere. Your program also utilizes WEIGHT WATCHERS® and POINTS® which are our U.S. registered trademarks.

Your WW Point Databases program, also for sale on palmgear.com, makes use of the same trademarks as above.

We formally request the removal of the "WWCalc-Calculator and Journal" and your "WW Point Databases" software programs from palmgear.com and any other forum for which you are profiting from our intellectual property and well respected brand names.

I attach for your reference copies of our US trademark certificates, and our Patent.

We consider this an urgent matter, and we await your response within the next 48 business hours.

Sincerely,
Loretta Pisciotta
Law Department
Weight Watchers International, Inc.
175 Crossways Park West
Woodbury NY 11797-2055

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Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 15:17:38 -0600
To: "Legal" <Legal@weight-watchers.com>
From: Bob Withers <bwit@pobox.com>
Subject: Re: WWCalc-Calculator and Journal on PalmGear.com
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Ms. Pisciotta,

Hello, thank you for contacting me.

It is true that I have developed a journal program for the Palm platform which assists bona fide members of Weight Watchers in tracking their daily consumption. This program is available free of charge. I do not now, nor have I ever, profited from the distribution of this program.

The program has been enormously popular among Weight Watchers members and I'm pleased to be able to make a contribution to the community that has helped me so much. I would ask you to consider allowing this program to be distributed as a service to your membership. In fact, I would be honored if Weight Watchers would consider distributing it as well.

If you continue to demand the software be removed I will comply with your wishes but I do hope your organization will reconsider its position to the benefit of your membership.

Best regards,
Bob Withers

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Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 16:30:32 -0500
From: "Legal" <Legal@weight-watchers.com>
To: <bwit@pobox.com>
Subject: Re: WWCalc-Calculator and Journal on PalmGear.com
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by host100.apollohosting.com id g0TLYVW14115

Dear Mr. Withers
We commend you for your obvious interest in helping Weight Watchers members, but we cannot allow you to continue to distribute your products. As trademark and patent owners it is our responsibility to protect our property from third party use, and if we do not remain vigilant we risk losing the rights to use them at all.
Also, it would be impossible for you to verify that you are distributing this product to Weight Watchers Members only. This could only be accomplished by tracking their Membership number in our database.
Again, we thank you for your interest in assisting others, but our request still stands.
Thank you for your professional understanding.
Regards
Loretta Pisciotta

WWCalc Related Links

WWCalc supports a lookup feature which references point data bases created for the List program. Use List to update existing databases or create your own. Dotti's Weight Loss Zone includes tons of useful information including point information for many restaurants. Unfortunately, Dotti does not make restaurant point information available in List database format for use by WWCalc. Here is a simple Python script I've written to assist in pulling this information from Dotti's site and creating List databases.

For information on how to use this utility look here.

Michele / akasha offers Weight Watcher Food Companion information and other useful Palm tools. The Food Companion point database distributed with WWCalc was created by Michele and you can get updated versions from her. Thanks Michele! Ellen Savyon offers additional point database in List format. Here are some good Weight Watchers recipes.

Some useful tools for weight lost can be found here. Some interesting software for weight loss using a Palm. Some UK Weight Watchers information offered by Jane Harrisson. Jane was a WWCalc beta tester and, I think, still uses the software. Jane, we're going to internationalize it one of these days!

If you are not aware of Vitalicious Muffins you really need to check them out. They are huge, great tasting, and only *1* point per serving (1/2 muffin)! They cost about $1.50 each sold in dozens. Adding shipping charges does make them a little pricey but they are really good and freeze well.

WWCalc Related Links
WWCalc supports a lookup feature which references point data bases created for the List program. Use List to update existing databases or create your own.	Dotti's Weight Loss Zone includes tons of useful information including point information for many restaurants.	Unfortunately, Dotti does not make restaurant point information available in List database format for use by WWCalc. Here is a simple Python script I've written to assist in pulling this information from Dotti's site and creating List databases. For information on how to use this utility look here.
Michele / akasha offers Weight Watcher Food Companion information and other useful Palm tools. The Food Companion point database distributed with WWCalc was created by Michele and you can get updated versions from her. Thanks Michele!	Ellen Savyon offers additional point database in List format.	Here are some good Weight Watchers recipes.
Some useful tools for weight lost can be found here.	Some interesting software for weight loss using a Palm.	Some UK Weight Watchers information offered by Jane Harrisson. Jane was a WWCalc beta tester and, I think, still uses the software. Jane, we're going to internationalize it one of these days!
If you are not aware of Vitalicious Muffins you really need to check them out. They are huge, great tasting, and only 1 point per serving (1/2 muffin)! They cost about $1.50 each sold in dozens. Adding shipping charges does make them a little pricey but they are really good and freeze well.