Microsoft fights Apple’s App Store trademark

Microsoft has asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to deny Apple’s 'App Store' trademark, which it filed for in 2008, saying it’s a generic term that anyone should be allowed to use.

Apple’s trademark was for "retail store services featuring computer software provided via the internet and other computer and electronic communication networks".

Microsoft said that the word "app" is a generic term for what is sold at the App Store and that "store" is generic for retail store services.

The company is also using Apple CEO Steve Jobs' own words against him, in citing an interview that Jobs gave saying "Amazon, Verizon and Vodafone have all announced that they are creating their own app stores for Android."

The status page for Apple's trademark request has been updated to say that "an opposition is now pending".

Source: Network World.