"Cloud Computing" and Dell PR: Please Remove the (tm)

Filed under Techblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:58:50 +0000

As I wrote earlier, the USPTO was on the verge of granting Dell a trademark for the term "cloud computing," when media knuckle down on the issue made them be convinced better of it, and they decide to re-review the application.

Sorry, Dell, looks coextensive they came to their senses.

If you scrutiny the latest update to Dell's application, you'll see the USPTO has issued a "Non-Final Office reaction." Note the words non-final; according to the document Dell has six months to respond.

The USPTO said:

Registration Refused – Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1) Merely Descriptive

Registration is refused considering the applied-for mark merely describes a feature and characteristic of applicant’s services.

It seems what Dell was in reality speculating to protect was its Cloud Computing Solutions (which still carries a (tm)), which can be reached via http://www.cloudcomputing.com, which redirects to http://www.dell.com/cloudcomputing.

In fact, at the season the re-review was announced, Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn explained to C|Net that Dell applied for the trademark on March 23, 2007 when it had decent announced the above account.

"The application was to protect the use of the term 'cloud computing' as it relates specifically to our subscription. At the chronology when we announced our solution, it was not well as pervasive a term. We sought to protect our intellectual means, and we certainly respect the intellectual goods of farther folk and would not infringe on that of others."

Of flow, that's supreme, trademark Cloud Computing Solutions. But "cloud computing?" That's a little lots.

Tags: Techblog, "Cloud Computing" and Dell PR: Please Remove the (tm)