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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
 ·T-Mobile US
| Re: How can they trade mark such a word? said by brandon  :said by Warez_Zealot :That's essentially like trademarking internet phone... or phone with an i in front of it.. Isn't there some law against trademarking common words? How the heck is iPhone a common word? They're not trying to trademark the letter "i" nor the word "phone." "iPhone" IS a trademark, however. It's kinda like how the word "American" can't be trademarked, and the word "Idol" can't be trademarked, but you can sure believe the words "American Idol" are trademarked. Linksys had a working telephone that has been officially launched into the market, called an iPhone, and had the trademark for the name since 2000. There is no reason why Apple should have any rights to the trademark unless Cisco grants it to them. If Apple hasn't been granted the rights to iPhone, then they can't start marketing it as such, which is what they did here. I'm curious about your take on the trademarked name of "windows"...
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brandon
Some truth included in this post.
Premium
join:2003-03-31
Hurley, MS
 ·AT&T Southeast
| Re: How can they trade mark such a word? said by kamm :said by brandon :said by Warez_Zealot :That's essentially like trademarking internet phone... or phone with an i in front of it.. Isn't there some law against trademarking common words? How the heck is iPhone a common word? They're not trying to trademark the letter "i" nor the word "phone." "iPhone" IS a trademark, however. It's kinda like how the word "American" can't be trademarked, and the word "Idol" can't be trademarked, but you can sure believe the words "American Idol" are trademarked. Linksys had a working telephone that has been officially launched into the market, called an iPhone, and had the trademark for the name since 2000. There is no reason why Apple should have any rights to the trademark unless Cisco grants it to them. If Apple hasn't been granted the rights to iPhone, then they can't start marketing it as such, which is what they did here. I'm curious about your take on the trademarked name of "windows"... I would venture to say that if Microsoft were actually selling windows (as in those things with glass in them) then they wouldn't be allowed the trademark. As it stands with Windows being completely different from the standard use of the word, it is allowed.
My opinions are often worthless however!  | |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Re: How can they trade mark such a word? It took Microsoft many, many years before Windows gained secondary meaning enough to be registrable. | |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs: | Re: How can they trade mark such a word? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the trademarked term is "Microsoft Windows", not just "Windows" | |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
 ·Comcast
·WOW Internet and C..
| Re: How can they trade mark such a word? It's just Windows. It took them almost 12 years before they were given a registration number for the OS.
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Word Mark WINDOWS
Goods and Services IC 009. US 038. G & S: computer programs and manuals sold as a unit; namely, graphical operating environment programs for microcomputers. FIRST USE: 19831018. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19831018
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Design Search Code
Serial Number 74090419
Filing Date August 20, 1990
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition June 21, 1994
Registration Number 1872264
Registration Date January 10, 1995
Owner (REGISTRANT) Microsoft Corporation CORPORATION DELAWARE One Microsoft Way Redmond WASHINGTON 980526399
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20050407.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20050407
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE | |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs: | Re: How can they trade mark such a word? Thanks for the correction. | |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| Even then, it's not 100% clear on the trademarking of Windows. Back a few years a company called Linspire came out with a Linux distribution that ran some Windows applications called Lindows. Microsoft sued because the trademarks were sufficiently similar that it could cause confusion to consumers. While the case was ultimately settled out of court before all appeals were exhausted, it was quite a ways down the path of Microsoft losing the case because Microsoft had used the term "windows" in describing the GUI prior to Windows (the product) from ever being released. Apple and Xerox had also implemented the idea and used the terminology prior to Microsoft telemarketing it as well. It would be similar to me trademarking the name Phones and then suing any company that used the derivative of that.
Trademarks are used to product product name recognition in the market place. Multiple companies can own the same or similar trademark as long as the use of the trademark is in different areas and would not be commonly confused by the lay person. My company has a trade mark of "Do it Best" (the hardware store). Nike has the trade mark "Just Do It". They are fairly similar, but it's not likely someone would confuse a hardware store and a sports clothing company.
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Quis custodiet custodes ipsos? | |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
·Comcast
·WOW Internet and C..
1 edit | Re: How can they trade mark such a word? said by cdru :Even then, it's not 100% clear on the trademarking of Windows. Back a few years a company called Linspire came out with a Linux distribution that ran some Windows applications called Lindows. Microsoft sued because the trademarks were sufficiently similar that it could cause confusion to consumers. While the case was ultimately settled out of court before all appeals were exhausted, it was quite a ways down the path of Microsoft losing the case because Microsoft had used the term "windows" in describing the GUI prior to Windows (the product) from ever being released. Apple and Xerox had also implemented the idea and used the terminology prior to Microsoft telemarketing it as well. It would be similar to me trademarking the name Phones and then suing any company that used the derivative of that. Trademarks are used to product product name recognition in the market place. Multiple companies can own the same or similar trademark as long as the use of the trademark is in different areas and would not be commonly confused by the lay person. My company has a trade mark of "Do it Best" (the hardware store). Nike has the trade mark "Just Do It". They are fairly similar, but it's not likely someone would confuse a hardware store and a sports clothing company. Microsoft's registration for Windows is very clear. What was not clear was that Lindows was sufficiently similar to cause confusion. Microsoft losing the case would have had zero impact on it Windows mark relating to the OS.
Establishing secondary meaning trumps prior usage as a generic term. So, I can't agree with your comparison of the trademark Phones. I think you're missing the point.
This is a good primer that you can read to learn more about trademarks. »www.registeringatrademark.com/pr···rk.shtml | |
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nklb
Premium
join:2000-11-17
Ann Arbor, MI
clubs:
1 edit | "Linspire" is the new name that is the end result of the lawsuit; the original name that provoked the suit was "Lindows"
Edit: Oops, my eyes skipped right over where you said this, sorry | |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Common words can serve as trademarks as well. You just have to establish a secondary meaning for the word. It took MS almost a dozen years to do this for their operating system. | |
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