Validator problem with "a" in <textarea>

[keyplyr]

Getting a validation error because of text starting with the letter "a" in textarea:

<form action=""><textarea cols="99" rows="1" name="blah" id="blah"><a href="http://www.example.com/">A Title of Company</a> more text.</textarea></form>

Val says doc type does not allow A there (Using 4.01 transitional loose.)

The A is part of a trademarked company name, and cannot be left out. Is there a work-around to get the page to validate? Thanks

[Span]

I think it is not about the "A" but about the <a> tag.

[moltar]

Yes, you need to escape all HTML. Should be:

<form action=""><textarea cols="99" rows="1" name="blah" id="blah"> 
&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.example.com/&quot;&gt;A Title of Company&lt;/a&gt; more text. 
</textarea></form>

[keyplyr]

Thanks moltar, that's it.