Tele Vista Suing Microsoft Windows Vista
June 8, 2007 by Milo Riano
Filed under Computers
Philippe Gildas is suing Microsoft for the use of his trademark Vista which he registered in October 2003 with the French National Institute for Intellectual Property. He has registered the name for a television channel covering categories 35, 38 and 41 representing entertainment, and media coverage. Philippe argues that his television channel Tele Vista is about to launch and the consumer would get confused with Microsoft’s Windows Vista.
Is he going to win?
Not likely, French trademark law covers protection of trademark for categories it has registered into which means that the name Vista can be legally used in different businesses provided the business as registered it in the category the business uses the trademark.
Philippe has failed to register the name Vista in categories 9 and 42 representing software, design and development of computers — the same category Windows Vista belongs to.
Why is he suing?
He may not win, but the media coverage he is getting from suing Microsoft could be worth the trouble.
