Use of "Lindows" name blocked in Sweden
Use of "Lindows" name blocked in Sweden
Posted Dec 11, 2003 19:23 UTC (Thu) by Ross (guest, #4065)In reply to: Use of "Lindows" name blocked in Sweden by ballombe
Parent article: Use of "Lindows" name blocked in Sweden
It's a technical term which describes a GUI element used in MS
Windows and other operating systems. Is calling X11 "The X Window
System" also not allowed? How about referring to things on the
screen as windows? What about wxWindows? It's really a mess if
they don't recognize the term to be generic as it is.
Having said that I don't particularly care for Lindows or their
tendency to "elevate" their importance to Linux community in public
statements.
Posted Dec 12, 2003 9:22 UTC (Fri)
by filipjoelsson (guest, #2622)
[Link] (1 responses)
In english, yes. In swedish, we say "fönster" (which happens to be the translations of "window"). > Is calling X11 "The X Window System" also not allowed? Good question. I doubt that they (tm)ed it in Sweden before MS (tm)ed MS Windows. > How about referring to things on the screen as windows? As I said before, we don't - unless speaking to a foreigner who don't know swedish. > What about wxWindows? Have they applied for a trademark here? > It's really a mess if they don't recognize the term to be generic as it The mess is the concept of trademarking a generic word, I agree. But what constitutes a generic word? Could I trademark a swedish, french or latin generic word in the US? Sure. Should I have to prove that my (tm)-to-be is not a generic word in _any_ language when I apply? That's silly. So, should we do away with the concept of (tm) alltogether? That's no good either. (How would I know that I really get the quality product I'm looking for in that case?) Do you have a solution?
Posted Dec 12, 2003 18:17 UTC (Fri)
by Ross (guest, #4065)
[Link]
I'm not arguing to get rid of trademarks. I'm also not saying that a
> It's a technical term which describes a GUI element used in MSUse of "Lindows" name blocked in Sweden
> Windows and other operating systems.
> is.
Err... X predates MS Windows. I agree they probably didn't file aUse of "Lindows" name blocked in Sweden
trademark but doesn't Sweden recognize trademarks without registration
like the US?
foreign word is automatically a generic term. In the US we give different
trademarks different levels of protection. I'm saying that the protection
for an unadorned foreign word which literally describes the product does
not deserve the level of protection which the Swedish courts seem to give
it.