Why Bloggers Can No Longer Use The Term ‘Smartbook’
Over in Cologne, Germany there is a company called ‘Smartbook AG’ that provides computers to businesses and ‘lifestyle’ markets. It seems that the company claims to have a trademark on the word ‘Smartbook’ and claims that some companies are using this term in violation of their trademark. Some companies use the term ‘Smartbook’ in describing a device which is basically a netbook of sorts.
In a recent article it also states that:
Let me kick off by saying that Smartbook AG does indeed own a trademark on the word smartbook in most of Western Europe, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and a couple of other countries. The company sells laptops that are named Smartbook, so I guess the company is well within its rights to try and protect their trademark in any way it deems appropriate.
To me this seems like kind of straight forward. If one does choose to use the term ‘Smartbook’ to describe a device, the trademark company should receive credit.
Case closed.
Comments welcome.
3 Comments
Glen Farmer
November 26th, 2009
at 5:56am
If they choose to call their product “Smartbook” then I agree it should be a legal issue.
It is no different than Chevy calling a truck “Ford F100″.
If a company says its product is a smartbook I see that as different.
Companies should be allowed to trademark their Company or product name but not actual words..
For example if a Company chose to call itself “A” and trademarked it most writing would have to cease..
Kyle
November 26th, 2009
at 10:19am
The first ammendment of the United States: FREEDOM OF SPEECH!
R U peaple a bunch of idiots?
December 7th, 2009
at 8:24am
If they have a trademark on the smartbook then others can NOT sell so called smartbook computers. Should not even be a debate about it…..