AfterDawn: News

Microsoft sued by Office Live

Office Live LLC., an online only media company that gives free professional advice as well as run a few websites, including Officelive.net and Autoofficelive.net has started a lawsuit seeking to get an injunction stopping Microsoft from using the "Office Live" name.

Office Live LLC. has had the name "Office Live" federally trademarked since 2002, well before Microsoft launched their Office Live service in 2006.



In late December 2006, after the release of Microsoft’s Office Live services, Office Live LLC. filed the lawsuit against Microsoft, but after talks with Microsoft they decided to refrain serving the lawsuit until both sides could work out a deal. However, when the companies met in February, all talks collapsed and an agreement could not be met.

The CEO of Office Live LLC. had this to say in a statement: "It is shocking that Microsoft would have so little regard for another company's intellectual property rights that it would select a name belonging to another company. Online software may be the next big thing, but Microsoft has no right to use our trademark without permission."

Microsoft counters with their argument that the word "live" is a very common word that is used as a descriptor more than as a phrase. They do not believe Office Live LLC has a trademark.

Besides planning to defend their position in court Microsoft also plans to completely invalidate Office Live LLC's trademark to the phrase "Office Live".

Source:
Dailytech

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 2 Mar 2007 11:40

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• 26 comments

• PeaInAPod

  I sure as hell these people don't accept the offers Microsoft offers them, take them to court and sue them for it. This isn't a accident this is blatant copyright infringement.

  2.3.2007 12:18 #1

• ZippyDSM

  SHow MS you can not break by corporate force,its a shame any OTT win will be overturned MS should lose miloins over this....

  2.3.2007 12:36 #2

• xhardc0re

  copyright infringement by M$oft!? z0mg!!1!! how dare they...
  ...like every OS they ever created since the days of DOS has been a blatant ripoff of MAC/Linux/Unix or some other OS. I hope that co. sues M$oft out of existence!

  2.3.2007 12:37 #3

• MasterRE

  If enough of these small pathetic company's keep suing Microsoft, they will eventually go out of business. Then what operating system will all you hypocrite's use?

  2.3.2007 13:04 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by MasterRE:If enough of these small pathetic company's keep suing Microsoft, they will eventually go out of business. Then what operating system will all you hypocrite's use?
  MS would have to sell its OS then XP would be made into open source then you'd get all kinds of flavors of XP,its as good as waiting 4 years for vister to become stable.
  
  
  even if XP was dropped from support and no one bought it people would start to make fixs to hack the hacks other make.
  
  all in all vista wont be worth while for 2-5 years so XP or 2K is it.

  2.3.2007 13:09 #5

• natony

  Originally posted by MasterRE:If enough of these small pathetic company's keep suing Microsoft, they will eventually go out of business. Then what operating system will all you hypocrite's use?Oh no! You're right! Microsoft is the only company that develops operating systems! The customers need microsoft, not the other way round. Why isn't everyone nicer to Massive Companies?
  /sarcasm

  2.3.2007 13:46 #6

• rihgt682

  Why do you guys hate microsoft so much? what are you using right now? most of you use microsoft product. If you don't like DON"T USE IT!
  
  I hate those people who use microsoft product but they talk crap. Their's linux and apple. I like windows xp and microsoft office 2003.

  2.3.2007 13:48 #7

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by rihgt682:Why do you guys hate microsoft so much? what are you using right now? most of you use microsoft product. If you don't like DON"T USE IT!
  
  I hate those people who use microsoft product but they talk crap. Their's linux and apple. I like windows xp and microsoft office 2003.
  "Why do you guys hate microsoft so much?"
  They are a large greedy consumer hating corporation.
  launches
  360 hardware issues
  Blue tooth support/driver issues
  Vista/ME a sht load of issues
  
  the only reason we run XP is because most everything is made for it,its like MS and Sony on the console side of things THEY ARE HOLDING A GUN TO YOUR HEAD because they are half of ALL GAMING.
  
  MS can do better about consumer issues but wont because they can get away with it,thats why we will always make sure everyone knows MS's mistakes and WE will do the same for any company who pulls the sheeple card when dealing with the public.
  MS and Sony are tied for being A number 1 arse holes.

  2.3.2007 13:57 #8

• xhardc0re

  @MasterRE: this hypocrite desperately wants to learn Linux. but alas...i will be forced to learn MAC instead.
  Steve Jobs with a .40 revolver on crack is still 2,000% less Satan than B1ll Gates. Or as he calls himself, the Digital Jesus Christ in sheeps clothing.

  2.3.2007 13:59 #9

• hodgins91

  well even if microsoft lose the case i think they maybe...just maybe...able to scrape some change together to buy the name lol (by change i mean mass millions lol £/$ )lol

  2.3.2007 14:07 #10

• rihgt682

  @zippy. all company is like that. I never had or heard a company that doesn't rip people off when they can.
  
  SErious think about it, You can charge people let's just say a pen for $40 and people would buy, YOu know it's overpriced but you sell it at that price because people buy it. (college also)
  
  It how all the company is. I hate em all. Like newegg for example. They use it to be really nice when "I" made a mistake. They would fix and all that crap for free. Now the newegg that's right now will CHARGE me for "THEIR" mistake. yeah, i know i'm pissed but guess what. I hate it so much and I want to say i'll never buy from newegg again. but i will cause it's still cheap.

  2.3.2007 14:36 #11

• spydah

  Originally posted by rihgt682:Why do you guys hate microsoft so much? what are you using right now? most of you use microsoft product. If you don't like DON"T USE IT!
  
  I hate those people who use microsoft product but they talk crap. Their's linux and apple. I like windows xp and microsoft office 2003.
  Well let me say this beyond all of the flaws in all of MS products. A lot of people hate MS because if they had a chance to sue you for something they felt you wasn't doing right with their products or products name they would be all over you in a sec. So if this company feels like MS is blatantly stealing their name to make some extra money because its known for other reason beyond them I like many others here feel like they should be sued. I bet Bill G8tes would not hesitate to take and one person with out the financial backing or company with financial backing in a hurry look what happened to Lindows the first public release of a linux based OS that looked and acted like Windows. Now you dont hear nothing from them.

  2.3.2007 16:03 #12

• scorpNZ

  My understanding is microsoft united the industry and made a standard so compatability was no longer an issue,look'n around there's plenty of free replacement software for a good portion of any microsoft product,seems to me we would'nt have had that much choice without them but instead be locked into IBM,HP or Apple
  
  
  The ruling should be interesting since "live"(or online based software) is pretty much the next step in software for all manufacturers there's gunna be a few more shootouts at high noon in the comming months...lol...

  2.3.2007 17:11 #13

• ZippyDSM

  scorpNZ
  Funny compatibility is stil a issue they don't support older programs ad hardware,if they took the time to make a REAL compatibility mode then I would not nit pick on them they seem to only give a dan
  m about new stuff and even support that awkwardly...
  
  rihgt682
  no not all some are greedy but not anti consumer.
  the trouble with lunix is its HIGH MANTANACE(try looking up drivers for it ,its like finding them for vister 64bit)
  add that both it and mac are limited by hardware and program support MS is kinda the only game in town,besides lnix is only worth while if you poor you life into it :P

  2.3.2007 18:15 #14

• Gidgid

  Let's look at it like this. Microsoft has Office 2007. Along comes a company this year and makes an office product. They put the year and the product together and behold, Office 2007.
  
  Do you think they would get away with "But 2007 is just the year. It's very common. It's just a descriptor."
  
  I think not.

  2.3.2007 18:56 #15

• xhardc0re

  Linux is still meant for propeller heads (oh man am i showing my age...) & GEEKS. Still, it is a powerful OS (the govt used Unix for 40+ yrs) & blows Windoze away. MAC is also based on Unix (NextStep from Steve Jobs old co.) & i think anyone who can get under the hood should consider spending the $$ on one. The only reason Windows is popular is: 1)sell it cheap 2)give it away with computers (well not really...$$$) 3)get every govt/county/school to use it 4)punish your competitors 5)steal your competitors tech 5)buy out your competitors when you cannot steal/punish them 6)fool everyone into thinking you are a 'good' company
  
  The day that Microsoft covers the world with its OS will be the end of civilization.
  Use Linux, Unix, FreeBSD, anything but Windoze.

  2.3.2007 18:56 #16

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by xhardc0re:Linux is still meant for propeller heads (oh man am i showing my age...) & GEEKS. Still, it is a powerful OS (the govt used Unix for 40+ yrs) & blows Windoze away. MAC is also based on Unix (NextStep from Steve Jobs old co.) & i think anyone who can get under the hood should consider spending the $$ on one. The only reason Windows is popular is: 1)sell it cheap 2)give it away with computers (well not really...$$$) 3)get every govt/county/school to use it 4)punish your competitors 5)steal your competitors tech 5)buy out your competitors when you cannot steal/punish them 6)fool everyone into thinking you are a 'good' company
  
  The day that Microsoft covers the world with its OS will be the end of civilization.
  Use Linux, Unix, FreeBSD, anything but Windoze.I would rather have my free windose thank you ^^

  2.3.2007 19:02 #17

• Blackjax

  Hmmm funny thing I was just getting into learning linux. I guess I will find out which is better.
  
  
  Oh and I almost forgot the obilgatory M$ s*cks statement......
  they are money grubbing idea stealing non-consumer friendly always patching security holes sue you if look at them crosseyed or have their idea first 3.1 95 98 me xp vista piece of crap software providing corporation, oh and satan is/was the CEO. Did I miss anything?
  
  
  
  I have to go now I need to update windose! :)

  2.3.2007 19:44 #18

• rihgt682

  Quote: 3)get every govt/county/school to use it 4)punish your competitors 5)steal your competitors tech 5)buy out your competitors when you cannot steal/punish them 6)fool everyone into thinking you are a 'good' company
  Last time i checked, It was APPLE who has computer in everyschool. Now that school notice how sucky it is, they're buying windows. I don't know what you mean "PUNISH" competitors. It's business ofcourse you would "PUNISH" your competitors when you have a chance. It was also the microsoft who HELPED APPLE when they were bankrupt (yes, this was before the ipod). I'm not even going to say the rest of what you said cause what you just said involves every other fortune 500 company does, it not just microsoft. SOny for EX.
  
  You know what eles, the "TRUTH" is they treat us this way cause MOST of americans like myself is to lazy to change them. If every single customer would tell them to treat us how we want than they'll do it cause no one would buy their crap. But the treat is most people just live with it.

  2.3.2007 19:57 #19

• MasterRE

  Originally posted by Blackjax:Hmmm funny thing I was just getting into learning linux. I guess I will find out which is better.
  
  
  Oh and I almost forgot the obilgatory M$ s*cks statement......
  they are money grubbing idea stealing non-consumer friendly always patching security holes sue you if look at them crosseyed or have their idea first 3.1 95 98 me xp vista piece of crap software providing corporation, oh and satan is/was the CEO. Did I miss anything?
  
  
  
  I have to go now I need to update windose! :)Funny thing, I don't remember hearing or seeing Microsoft sueing anyone, it's mostly the otherway around.
  

  Apple G5
  Two dual-core 2.5GHz PowerPC G5 processors 1.25GHz frontside bus per processor 1MB L2 cache per core
  1GB of 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM 250GB Serial ATA hard drive
  16x SuperDrive (double-layer) AirPort Extreme+Bluetooth
  Three open PCI-Express expansion slots
  NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT with 256MB SDRAM
  23 inch apple HD cinema display. One 600 GB external Maxtor hard drive, three external 160 GB Western digital hard drive's, four external dvd burners, two photo printers,
  THIS IS HILARIOUS, MARIO 1UP!
  http://i.my.afterdawn.com/original/10756.gif

  3.3.2007 03:29 #20

• SProdigy

  Not that I'm a MS fanboy, but what is so bad about Windows? Seriously? MS has to make a platform that works with stuff made by vendors around the world! (Think about it, Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, and then the companies that make the parts that go in those machines.)
  
  What does Apple do? They only use Intel processors, specific types of memory, proprietary motherboards, etc. Their system is VERY closed and more monopolistic. Since 8 or 9 out of every 10 machines run Windows, it is more likely that someone will hack it or release a virus/spyware and MS needs to run out and fix it. It's not that big of a deal!
  
  Think of all the games that have patches released for them after a few weeks, and notice it has nothing to do with a virus, but rather, the product was shipped out to fast.
  
  Also, in most cases Linux is not as versatile and does not have drivers for everything under the sun! Having to use the Terminal or WINE to get things to run is just loads of fun, and wastes tons of time if you can't get it working.
  
  For the most part, MS has done a damn good job. Most of you guys aren't even running Vista, and if you were, you would realize its the software companies that are incompatible, not MS. Hell, almost all of my apps worked on Vista RC1.
  
  As far as greed, there was an article on CNET stating how the price of Windows has actually stayed the same over the years (in the $100-$130 range for a basic upgrade) while the value has gone down due to inflation.
  
  Learn how to use a PC and that antivirus and updates are part of the solution. There's no way that MS can predict what will happen 2 years down the road, or for that matter, what will happen in April. That's why there's updates. He doesn't try to hide them behind a fancy name like OS X Liger or Sabretooth, which is Apple's way of saying "upgrade" vs. "update".

  3.3.2007 04:25 #21

• ZippyDSM

  SProdigy
  closed and more monopolistic.,do you even fathom what ti takes to get a driver certified for XP?
  
  Yes apple offers only a few basic types f hardware but the upshot is they have managed to keep the quality of it pretty high,with a CLONE system for windose you can pick from the cheapest POS hardware to stuff that costs 5X ore because they can charge that much more.
  
  MS needs to get over itself and be more consumer friendly,MS has done alot of "good" stuff but the bad pretty much out weighs the good.
  

  
  
  FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A.
  Sony has declared war on importers the consumer will be next with CD's,Videos/Games not far behind that....boycott SONY!
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8062.cfm

  3.3.2007 05:32 #22

• Gradical

  next thing you know theyre going to make ms office Itunes, since Itunes its quite a very common word nand we do not think apple can have a pattent on the itunes word
  hahahahahha

  3.3.2007 06:46 #23

• MasterRE

  The reason Microsoft has so many programs for their OS is because it is a platform that programs can be easily developed on and becuase the programs work. Buissnes's all have a choice of what OS they wan't to use, it's just that MS has an OS that is buissnes friendly and easy to use

  3.3.2007 07:05 #24

• Gradical

  and also because they have long monopolized computers since it comes shipped with almost every freakin brand computer, like it or not

  3.3.2007 07:36 #25

• ZippyDSM

  MasterRE
  if they were not a consumer hating monopoly they would not have done half as well thats the point,in order for MS to get to where it is today it had to fight alot of ugly battles to become the dictator of OSs it is...

  3.3.2007 08:05 #26