Microsoft Forces wxWindows To Rename

Peter Millerchip writes "Apparently Microsoft have forced wxWindows, the popular cross-platform C++ GUI library, to change its name to wxWidgets over the UK trademark of the seemingly generic word 'Windows.' Hot on the heels of the MikeRoweSoft.com incident, you have to wonder if their overactive legal team will be targetting double glazing manufacturers next?"

Comments

Phew, it's hot in here

[Ianoo]

I think I might have to open some wind^H^H^H^Hframed glass panes attached to hinges!

Seriously... this trademarking of generic words is just silly. Is someone going to trademark the word "The" next, so no company name can contain it?

This is retarded

[fredrikj]

I can actually understand the case against Lindows to some degree, because Lindows is a name that might confuse consumers. wxWindows, however, is a tool for developers. Developers developing applications for windowing environments, people who very well know the difference between Windows(tm) and a windowing user interface. Joe Avg will never encounter the name.

I guess X is next.

Re:This is retarded

[Craig Maloney]

Yes, but X is old enough that Microsoft might lose the trademark if they challenged it. :)

Re:It's a better name anyway

[TykeClone]

Because that's what they generate - program windows.

Office next?

[Vincman]

...you have to wonder if their overactive legal team will be targetting double glazing manufacturers next?
Or Office for that matter! This whole discussion makes no sense whatsoever. Windows as a word does not infringe, unless it is accompanied by the word Microsoft.
It's like McDonalds sueing every fastfood-place in the world for using the words Milkshake or Hamburger.

Huh?

[Captain Rotundo]

What about X Windows? Thats clearly a common phrase (seeing as everyone says "X Windows" and the X people say its not "X Windows". What about the fact that wxWindows isn't even remotely a competing product with MS Windows. And the fact that people called multitasking GUIs windowing systems before microsoft came up with Windows.... I'm gonna go out on a linb and say thats why they called it Windows.

I think they are just upset they don't have a cool name like "Linux" "BSD" or "OS X" :)

They did it for the money

[magnum3065]

Hmmm, tough choice: get into a legal battle to keep the name "wxWindows" and spend a lot of money, or change to "wxWidgets" and get "modest financial compensation" from Microsoft?

Re:It's a better name anyway

[10101001 10101001]

What would you expect in a portable Windowing system? The fact is, the concept of defining a 2D area defining a program's visible space as a window isn't something at all unique to MS Windows. Nor is MFC an original idea. It's just an extension of procedural into the OO world. Do you think X Window System should change its name too? Should Apple make sure all their docs do not use the word "window(s)" just in case? Should Open Office stop being made because there's MS Office?

Microsoft, probably as a result of marketing, decided to use the most colloquial name association it could fine for its products for the most part. The fact that they were a late comer to such markets only worsens their claim. If Microsoft wants to use a generic term to describe a product, they should be only able to trademark "Microsoft ". This all reminds me of an episode of Freakazoid where "Lord Bravery" tried to get a ton of people to rename their businesses because each had to chose a different name because of such widespread trademarks. "Lord Bravery" vs "Lord Bravery Bakery"...cause people are too stupid to tell one rescues people and the other makes muffins, so we should ban similar naming? Let's not even begin with the whole *Win* *Zip*. Double whammy there.