A potential trademark dispute has forced Microsoft to drop the Metro name for Windows 8's blocky, tile-based interface.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19108952


Comments (Page 2)
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on Aug 05, 2012

Okay, in all seriousness, since it resembles the Speed Dial on most browsers, and it's sort of like the Xbox dashboard, they could try combining those in some way to come up with a new name.

ERMAHGERD SPERDBERD!

Hahaha no.

on Aug 05, 2012

Wizard1956
What works for America doesnt always go over so well elsewhere.

Chevrolet had problems marketing the Chevy Nova automobile in Latin America. Since no va means "it doesn't go" in Spanish, the oft-repeated story goes, Latin American car buyers shunned the car, forcing Chevrolet to embarrassedly pull the car out of the market.
Where the hell do you get this stuff?  

on Aug 05, 2012

RedneckDude

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 1What works for America doesnt always go over so well elsewhere.

Chevrolet had problems marketing the Chevy Nova automobile in Latin America. Since no va means "it doesn't go" in Spanish, the oft-repeated story goes, Latin American car buyers shunned the car, forcing Chevrolet to embarrassedly pull the car out of the market.

 

Where the hell do you get this stuff?  

 

Certainly not from snopes! http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

 

Even though the story is false, I'm sure there have been a number of similar if less popular examples.

on Aug 05, 2012

How about Windows Retro?

Graphically, they are going backwards.

on Aug 05, 2012

Good find, jackswift85. The source I used never claimed it to be true, just oft-repeated.

on Aug 05, 2012

DrJBHL
Windows Bain.

Window PAIN.

We already have plenty of four-letter names for Windows 8.

on Aug 05, 2012

Windows the User Slayer.  'cause we're killing ourselves laughing at it.

on Aug 05, 2012

Window PAIN.

Yeah, Purposefully And Intentionally Niggling

on Aug 05, 2012

Wizard1956
Perhaps they didn't want their good name associated with an impending fail of epic proportions.

A large company like MS would not give up a brand they had spent a lot of time and money creating. It would fight tooth and nail to keep it (and win). The only reason to give up a brand, if the brand is not worth keeping.... Still nothing has changed, it's the same beast, no matter what you call it.

Windows Squares

on Aug 05, 2012

tazgecko
Windows Squares

And with a celebrity in each square, Microsoft launches its new game, built right into the GUI.

Windows Celebrity Squares.

That's right, folks, step right up and play Windows Celebrity Squares.

Pick the right celebrity face and you can win some fabulous prizes... absolutely free.

For example, if you picked Paul Lynde, you could win a free trip to the set of Bewitched.

Or if you picked Bob Denver you could win a free trip to the set of Gilligan's Island.

 

But wait, folks, there's more!!!  Pick Steve Ballmer or another famous Microsoft employee

and you could unlock the Windows 8 special GodMode, which allows the user to find hidden

settings, like how to disable the old Metro for the new, and replacing the start button.

 

But wait, there's more!!!  Purchase Windows 8 with the Free Windows Celebrity Squares

within the next 10 minutes for the once in a lifetime low price of $9.99 [less tax] we will

throw in a Start menu to go with that Start Button absolutely free.

 

Hurry, this offer lasts only today, so do not wait, buy Windows 8 with Windows Celebrity Squares

today or miss out.  Only hours remaining, so pick up the phone and order your copy right now

to enjoy a lifetime of fun [or until Windows 9 is released with Windows Celebrity Family Feud]

 

 

on Aug 06, 2012

starkers
Okay, so what's this German retail giant going to do about the French using "Metro" for their underground rail system?

And the bus company in Tasmania called "Metro"?

Or the computer repair place in Brisbane called Metro PC?

Not to mention the George St. Brisbane bar called the Metro

And my dress-up/going into the big city shoes... called my Metro shoes, as opposed to my stay-at-home slippers named: "my stay-at-home slippers".

Yeah, Metro is too widely used to be trademarkable, in my opinion.... and I'm sure the Metro Brothel owners in Ipswich would agree, as would the licensee of the Metro Hotel [orright, it's really called the Metropole, but what's a little pole between friends] in Brisbane St. Ipswich.

Anyway, that's all beside the point, MS needs to change the name from Metro, and I vote for 'Optional'... as in optional by name and optional by nature.  In fact, I reckon there should be a Windows 8 version that is Metro -less... to save those of us with any remaining sense and dignity the pain and indignation of having to click the opt out of Metro button during installation.

Moreover, I propose that MS and Mozilla bite the browser wars bullet and have the latest version of Firefox pre-installed on ALL Windows 8 versions.  I mean, with metered internet these days, and it's so expensive, too, it's costing us to download Firefox and I can't see why MS and Mozilla just can't get along.

The other thing I want in Windows 8 is a Total Google blocker.... do that, MS and I'll happily buy 2 licenses for $39.99.

 

difference is that they won't be in germany.

windows tube?

on Aug 06, 2012

alaknebs
difference is that they won't be in germany.

So Metro Germany is a stay-at-home firm that only sues from its armchair if the mob using the Metro name is an international corporation and it'll give them oodles of free publicity?

Hmmm, that's pretty gutless as far as I'm concerned.  Yup, they gotta get off their arses and broaden their law suit horizons... come to Oz, even, and sue some Metro name users here. Personally, I'd like to see Metro Germany sue the local brothel with the same name and put the owners out of business [could be just the business opportunity/opening I've been looking for] permanently.

Thing is, if the truth be known, Microsoft is ditching the Metro name because they made it shitty.... it didn't stink before, but now it does.  So yeah, this law suit thing is just a smokescreen to distract everyone while they come up with a new name... and the excuse will be along the lines that Metro didn't have enough letters in it, or something.

At the end of the day, though, Windows 8 will come out with a butt ugly tile interface and alienate millions of users worldwide.  I will buy it for the low price of $39.95 because, thanks to Stardock and Winstep, I've figured a way to use it just like I do Win7. Maybe a few others will upgrade as well, but the majority will stay away in droves because the low price will not be a great enough lure and new interface will be too great a departure from what they're familiar with.

on Aug 06, 2012

isnt april over yet

on Aug 06, 2012

starkers
So Metro Germany is a stay-at-home firm that only sues from its armchair if the mob using the Metro name is an international corporation and it'll give them oodles of free publicity?

No, the point is that trademarks are country-specific. Metro Germany probably doesn't own the registration in Australia. If the Metro brothel began operating in Germany, then they'd likely have a case for trademark dilution.

on Aug 06, 2012

@ alaknebs and zigzag, I'm just having a bit of fun with this so please don't take it too seriously.

I guess I found it too incredible that Microsoft would be changing the name of its new interface on the basis of Metro Germany filing a law suit against it for using a fairly generic name, so yeah, I decided to poke a bit of fun.

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