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This question has already been settled.
The precedent is the case in which Pepsi Cola prevailed in a
trademark infringement suit brought by Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola
had aggressively defended its exclusive use of the word "cola."
When they sued Pepsi, Pepsi successfully defended itself. The
case turned on the point that you can't patent a trademark.
Coca-cola could no more patent "cola" than Hershey could
patent "chocolate" or "cocoa." So now we have RC Cola and all
the other colas.

Windows are as much an ingredient in user interfaces as cola in
a cola soft drink, so while Microsoft is entitled to the exclusive
use of "Microsoft Windows," Just as Coca-Cola is entitled to
exclusive use of "Coca-Cola," they can't claim exclusive rights to
the use of the world "windows" in a user interface any more than
Coca-Cola can to the word "cola" in a cola-flavored beverage.
Posted by: Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   Posted on: 02/11/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Too funny  OhMyGosh | 02/11/04
My fasha can't open his lindow  Arrg | 02/11/04
what do you call a window that pops up on linux  JWatson77 | 02/11/04
a window... but why?  Iko_z | 02/12/04
Windows  ITGuy04 | 02/11/04
Yes, you are exactly right, Windows is generic.  DonnieBoy | 02/11/04
not entirely true  LightningShrike | 02/11/04
Not entirely true either  BruceWheelock@... | 02/11/04
but..  neil ubich | 02/11/04
This question has already been settled.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/11/04
Correction  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/11/04
Never heard of The X Window System? (NT)  dscherf | 02/12/04
Wrong question.  jfrankcarr | 02/11/04
personally,  ryusen | 02/11/04
correct  neil ubich | 02/11/04
re: Windows  dwest_z | 02/11/04
Microsoft would do well to admit Windows is generic and go on with life.  DonnieBoy | 02/11/04
it is not about the trademark  JWatson77 | 02/11/04
Yes, true, but Michael has lots of money from selling MP3  DonnieBoy | 02/12/04
agreed  neil ubich | 02/11/04
Let's be realistic here.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/11/04
Right.  Heatlesssun | 02/11/04
Still, completely legal to take advantage of others mistakes.  DonnieBoy | 02/11/04
Couldn't they just...  tic swayback | 02/11/04
yeah  neil ubich | 02/11/04
Nope  OhMyGosh | 02/11/04
Actually, they were pretty clear  IT_User | 02/11/04
Lindoors would have got them in trouble too  voska | 02/11/04
Why lindows?  Jack-Booted EULA | 02/11/04
eish!  stephen732@... | 02/11/04
Why Lindows  mavedrive | 02/11/04
not possible to prove  LightningShrike | 02/11/04
One thing though  bhanes@... | 02/11/04
Right!! no wrong  nite_w0lf | 02/12/04
Curiouser and Curiouser  vferrara | 02/11/04
Not conflicting, really  IT_User | 02/11/04
In the meantime...  vferrara | 02/11/04
Yep, 'windows' is just another commonly used generic  FilledOut | 02/11/04
well, not really...  jstead1 | 02/11/04
The K?  IT_User | 02/11/04
"Khule" (cool) Desktop Environment - most of the developers are German  DanIelWalker_z | 02/12/04
And if they're pronouncable  IT_User | 02/12/04
Hmm, probably "pronounceable"  IT_User | 02/12/04
Actually....  Torgam | 02/11/04
the "K"  ryusen | 02/11/04
New product announcements  d_jedi | 02/11/04
Confuse customers?  IT_User | 02/11/04
Microsoft is guilt of the same thing  agramont@... | 02/11/04
Microsoft is..  speedy1415 | 02/12/04
Well, they certainly wanted to give the impression is was similar.  DonnieBoy | 02/11/04
Correct me if I'm wrong..  d_jedi | 02/12/04
Can't correct, will comment...  IT_User | 02/12/04
Re: Can't correct, will comment...  d_jedi | 02/12/04
What's the d for?  zd-spam | 02/11/04
huh?  d_jedi | 02/12/04
when "ms windows"  ryusen | 02/12/04
What?  neil ubich | 02/11/04
But..  d_jedi | 02/12/04
poor poor pitiful M$  beafeater | 02/11/04
Just for the record  Louisiana oilman | 02/11/04
and  JWatson77 | 02/11/04
Yes and No  Letophoro | 02/11/04
Trademarked words  FirstNLastN | 02/11/04
In GB it is an articulated spanner  MarcB_z | 02/11/04
and  neil ubich | 02/11/04
Well, MIT could probably lay claim to "X WINDOWS System", from about 1982  DanIelWalker_z | 02/12/04
Similar to INTEL/AMD issues from years ago  mrlinux | 02/11/04
Is anyone paying attention?  BruceWheelock@... | 02/11/04
Re: Windows  saidge | 02/11/04
Generic term specific to industry  drichards1953 | 02/11/04
Which is why trademarks have to be protected....  quietLee | 02/12/04
A blatant waste of our time and money.  slyski@... | 02/11/04
Possible new name strategy  rlodge@... | 02/11/04
Microsoft's arrogance  jdtiede@... | 02/12/04

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