The trend may have started 11 years ago when the DOJ tried to stop Gillette from buying Parker Pen.

FORBES: The Little Picture

From 1976 to 1986 it was owned by Parker Pen before later being sold to Britain's much smaller Blue Arrow.

ECONOMIST: Manpower

The 16 first-round losers will drop into a separate repechage competition, which will confusingly be known as the Parker Pen Shield.

BBC: Pontypridd's road leads to Rome

Unseeded Ebbw Vale have been drawn against Montauban, while Caerphilly are against former Parker Pen winners Harlequins, both playing their home tie first.

BBC: Pontypridd's road leads to Rome

Sanrio's licensing offensive has so far netted such high-profile brands as pen-maker Parker, cosmetics manufacturers Shiseido and Kanebo, and even the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

CNN: PRETTY IN PINK SLUMP