Microsoft fight Apple for ‘App Store’ trademark

Microsoft are appealing to the US Patent and Trademark Office to get the term ‘App Store' from the clutches of Apple.

Apple applied for this trademark in 2008, just before it opened the iPhone Application Store and when online software delivery was only starting to take off. Microsoft seemingly want a piece of the pie and are fighting for the ‘App Store' term.

Microsoft apparently filed an action yesterday asking for a summary judgement to deny Apple the exclusive use of this trademark saying that both ‘app' and ‘store' are generic terms which both describe products from many other companies, such as Google and Amazon.

Microsoft said “App store' is a generic name that Apple should not be permitted to usurp for its exclusive use. Competitors should be free to use ‘app store' to identify their own stores and the services offered in conjunction with those stores”.

It has been well known that for a long time Apple and Microsoft haven't seen eye to eye on many things, but this latest move is set to cause even more friction between the two Fortune 500 companies.

KitGuru says: Are Microsoft right? share your views with us.

Become a Patron!