Apple says App Store name is mine and Microsoft sues

It is not uncommon for us to hear about someone in the Telecommunications Business suing another one over some sort of infringement or some other form or complaint. Generally I pay them no mind and try to move on to something a little more meaningful for our readers. Today however comes news that Apple is trying to Patent the name “App Store” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has the application pending.

Apple has Patented, and probably rightly so as they came up with it first: “There’s an app for that”. So why not try to grab all they can? Well Microsoft has caught wind of it and has filed a law suit blocking Apples attempt at wrapping up the sole right to be able to use the term “App Store”. Claiming that:

“‘App store’ is a generic name that Apple should not be permitted to usurp for its exclusive use. Competitors should be free to use ‘app store’ to identify their own stores and the services offered in conjunction with those stores,” said a Microsoft representative.

Everyone has got an “App Store” these days with Wireless Carriers and Amazon getting ready to launch theirs as well. Each have a slight variation of the “App Store” name except Microsoft:

• Google has the “Android App Store”
• Palm has a “webOS App Catalog”
• BlackBerry calls theirs “BlackBerry App World”
• Microsoft is now calling theirs: “Windows Phone App Store”

So there is some similarities going on and it could mean trouble for a lot of companies selling their Apps and a recognized place for customers to seek them out. Stay tuned and we will keep you posted on this story when ever it concludes.

Sources: BGR, Cult of Mack, Tuaw