Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google & Others Sued Over Android Trademark

Posted by Soulskill on from the grab-that-cash dept.

suraj.sun tips news that Google and 47 other companies are being sued over use of the "Android" name. Eric Specht of Android Data alleges that Google "stole first and asked questions later." According to The Register, "Google applied for a trademark for Android in October of 2007, but had that application denied in February of 2008. The USPTO's reasoning for the denial was simple: Since both Google and Specht were involved in the development of software and related services, 'consumers are likely to conclude that the goods are related and originate from a single source.'" Reader ruphus13 points out related news that Motorola is planning several Android-based phones for later this year.

4 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This is typical stuff. by Merls+the+Sneaky · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tastesicles.

  2. Re:This is typical stuff. by mlscdi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have you heard about Android Data before google made their move? Thought so.

    I'd heard of an Android called Data ...is that the same thing?

  3. Re:This is typical stuff. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you don't know what to do after profit, you've got some sort of a problem.

  4. And then there's the obvious ... by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... that the name "Android" really sucks for a cell phone.

    Let's take an example of how it was done right - the Motorola Razr - "as thin as a razor."

    But then again, this is from a company (Google) that couldn't even spell their OWN name right.

    Google - accidental misspelling of googol. According to Google's vice president, as quoted on a BBC The Money Programme documentary, January 2006, the founders - noted for their poor spelling - registered Google as a trademark and web address before someone pointed out that it was not correct.

    Hey, maybe they should have mis-spelled it as "Andruid" - they could have had a tie-in with the Boston Celtics. Or "Endroid" and hooked up with Preparation H. ("Shitty cell phone service? Use Endroid"). Or A-roid - the "Cell phone on steroids".