Microsoft Fights Apple Over 'App Store' Trademark

Rival claims 'App Store' is generic term
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 12, 2011 2:08 PM CST
Microsoft Fights Apple Over 'App Store' Trademark
Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer gives his keynote speech for the Consumer Electronics Show Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Microsoft is trying to stop Apple from trademarking the term "App Store," reports PC World. Apple executives have had a pending trademark since 2008, in a bid to make theirs the only online software retail vendor that can legally use the name. In a motion to kill Apple's trademark request, Microsoft makes the case that "App" is a generic term for software and that "store," is, well, just a store.

Microsoft also points out that Steve Jobs himself has used the phrase in a generic sense, citing one published interview in which he said: "Amazon, Verizon and Vodafone have all announced that they are creating their own app stores for Android." In short, "Apple should not be permitted to usurp" the phrase, argues Microsoft in legal papers.
(More App Store stories.)

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