Microsoft Battles Apple for App Store Trademark

[Camikazi]

[citation][nom]themassacre[/nom]did it ever occor to you that "app" could stand for "apple", just like "bs" stands for "microsoft"[/citation]
Maybe except they have called Google Market an app store and other places app stores too and they would not if it was short for Apple.

 

[davewolfgang]

This is like Walmart and Target trying to "Trademark" Superstore - JUST so the other company can't use it.

 

[wintelforever]

Whoever has more apps should win. Sorry Apple but Windows has way more apps and you don't need to get Microsoft's permission to use the apps.

 

[eddieroolz]

App is a shorthand for Application. How Apple got the TM for App Store is beyond me.

It's as if I called my store BesBuy and got it trademarked, when it's obvious its a shorthand for Best Buy...

 

[milktea]

Maybe I should trademark the word "AppZ" 😀

 

[RisnDevil]

You know, I don't really know anyone who called them "apps" before the iPhone came out. Even now, I know many people (myself included) who make distinctions between programs/software/applications and APPS. It may be shorthand for applications, but especially with the initial push of APPS, how they were smaller, generally less full-featured, portable applications, is it not possible that is was intentional to call the APPS to imply all this as opposed to just using lazy shorthand?

And just because other people call other company's digital storefronts and offerings "App Store(s)" doesn't mean that's what they are. They are called that due to the resounding and overwhelming success of THE App Store.

The ONLY reason I disagree with Apple getting that TM is that it is a frivolous TM. Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all.

 

[agnickolov]

About the only thing in common between trademarks and patents is that there are lawyers involved. This is a really poorly written article that actively attempts to confuse the reader into believing trademarks and patents are the same thing.

 

[applegetsmelaid]

I can see where MS is coming from. That's like a restaurant wanting to trademark "The Restaurant," or a store called "The Store." Revolutionary on Apple's part, the creativity from that company is one in a million 😉 However, there are lots of places owned by Mexicans called "La Tienda" which literally means "The Store." So Apple should just change the name to "La Tienda de Apps" and they will be fine!

 

[neely]

Just another example of Microsoft doing anything to steal, copy, or stop Apple from having success in a market. According to the attitude of Ballard and Gates a couple years back Microsoft couldn't have given two hoots that Apple would desire to attempt to trademark a phrase for an extremely highly successful product line and everything that goes with it. According to them the Iphone was a fad and would never take off now who has egg on their face? I know one thing if Microsoft was in Apples position then there is now way in the world they would not try to do the same, in fact they would have been there after 10 units sold! They are the biggest Hypocrite corporation in the world and Gates and his pushy I am richer than God and can buy anything in the world mentality is so old. Microsoft only buy's its success not build it, the way they always have done. As soon as they see a good product they buy it up and take credit for its development. They are the lamest company in the world.

 

[Guest]

The way I organized my files back in the mid-90's:

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It IS as generic as it could get...

 

[dEAne]

Did you remember when both microsoft and apple battled over Windows then it was found out that it is not them (both) who discovered it - it was xerox. Now it's this "App", who could possibly coin this term.

 

[wildwell]

[citation][nom]Camikazi[/nom]you say App Store when talking about computers it could mean Amazon App Store, Apple App Store, Google Market, Cydia, or any of the many other stores that sells apps, that is the difference. Apple is trying to trademark a highly generic term to stop other companies from using the same generic and widely used term.[/citation]
Ditto.

 

[eccentric909]

You know, I don't really know anyone who called them "apps" before the iPhone came out.

People have been calling Applications "Apps", for a long time now.. well before the iPhone or iPod came to be in existence. The first time I remember seeing them being referred to as Apps, was back in the late 90s with Warez Apps. I also use to categorize my files/software as Apps, Music, Videos, etc, long before the "App Store" came to be and I'm sure many others did as well.

 

[rhino13]

I think Microsoft should open the "Pat Store"
Short for Patent Store.

 

[pale paladin]

I think that terms being trademarked as titles is ridiculous. I'm going to trade mark the title of my new fruit selling business the: Fruit Store. so that anyone selling the product implied in the title of my business will have to pay me royalties or else. Seriously??? Juan Mendez will never have his fruit cart, and then I'll sue fruit loops, fruity pebbles,