Other "Vistas" take a wary look at their new namesake
posted Jul 25th 2005 5:31AM
While Microsoft's marketing team was
hooting and hollering on stage in Atlanta as they
announced that Longhorn's official name would be Windows Vista, at least one person was stewing back in Redmond.
No, Ballmer wasn't peeved that they lost his invite to the Atlanta shindig; the title of crankiest man in
Washington State was officially awarded to John Wall, head of Redmond-based tech services company Vista, Inc.
Wall's company owns a trademark on the name "Vista," and he's now considering his options, which could include
taking his neighbor to court — though he'd like to at least chew the fat over the back fence first. "We're going
to consider our options and talk to them," he told the Seattle Times. Wall isn't alone. Among the companies that
could be affected by the new name are La Jolla, California, based Vista Software, and Warren, Ohio's Vista Window
Co., which makes, you guessed it, Windows. Somehow we suspect that, if any of these companies make a run at
Microsoft, they're going to face a reaction that makes Apple's successful defense of the Tiger brand against
Tiger Direct look meek by comparison. It's Windows
Vista, now and forever (or at least until Blackcomb comes out). Get used to it.
[Via Slashdot]
#1 post!
Looks like microsoft is planing to give its new OS a name that'll make it last as long as possible. e.g. They made the eXPerience last 4ever! and now it looks like after longhorn another long wait. But thats 2morrow's problem.
'Vista' such a microsoft name
The name sucks, really.
Since Alta Vista is the name of a neighbourhood in Whistler, they've now opened up a whole range of half-upgrade name options.
Whistler (Mountain)i.e. XP, to Longhorn (Saloon), to Blackcomb (Mountain), now the resort neighbourhoods; M$ is not done, yet...
This isn't very suprising if you think about the names of various microsoft conference rooms, I remember many many of them being named after mountains or mountain ranges etc.
there is a major difference between the Apple suit and any that may be launched against microsoft. First, tiger computers and apple are in different buisnesses. Apple makes computer hardware and software and tiger direct is a merchant, it's a fine distinction but it's there. Second, tiger direct waited until the weekend before tiger was supposed to ship to file their lawsuit. This placed a substantial amount of suspicion on Tiger Direct's motives. Presumably any of theses companies would not make the same mistake.
There is also the fact that,
http://blog.adamjacobmuller.com/2005/07/24/whats-in-the-water-at-microsoft/
http://blog.adamjacobmuller.com/2005/07/24/don-has-it/
vista isn't exactly a name worth holding on to :-)
"alex
The name sucks, really." Q4T
Garbage. Simply Garbage. Anyone who thinks Microshit can deliver something worthy of $1 must be a complete idiot! They can call it anything they want. The fact that MIcroshit makes it, it should be banned.
^
Typed on a Windows PC
I kinda wondered when the lawsuits were going to happen.
We've been using Vista 3270 from Tom Brennan software for about a year now
www.tombrennansoftware.com
I'm actually surprised that MS went for a real word ("vista") instead of a distinctive made up one ("XP", "Xbox"). "Vista" is an incredibly common Spanish and English word.
If MS gets flack from Vista Inc., VistaPrint, Altavista, et al, I suppose they can just pay them all of ala Xbox Technologies.
Why can't Microsoft pick a name that isn't currently being used by another company? Especially after they had to shell out money to use the name "Xbox" since it was already in use prior to the game system shipping. Maybe if they'd do a Google Search on names ahead of time, they wouldn't land themselves into such trouble. Oh wait.
Why do these two geeks look like they're on the Redsox with the to hand point? That is owned by the Redsox guys, you aren't allowed.
This could be huge, imagine thousands of "vista" related trademark, businesses owners unite together and sue Microsoft's ass off the market. It'll be fun to hear that verdict!
I'm still waiting for Windows Glock 9mm (Free hand gun included with office edition)
I think that the name, and the marketing idea is good.
I don't want to discuss MS Windows here. But I do like the name Vista (and the marketing).
You really have to wonder what Microsoft was thinking when they decided on Vista. It would have taken about 5 minutes to check it against other existing trademarks. Apple at least had a little excuse... Tiger was the development name. And I'm pretty sure the word Tiger isn't anywhere on the box or in the OS. Its simply referred to as 10.4
When I read about this, it just reminds me how large corporations have a very hypocritical view of copyright and trademarks. If someone comes even close to infringing on a Microsoft trademark, their lawyers are all over it. Yet they have no scruples whatsoever about taking a name that may be trademarked by any number of other software companies, and using it.
Microsoft certainly isn't isolated. Apple does it all the time (regardless of Tiger Direct's motives, Tiger is associated with their name and software, and Apple should know this). Starbucks does it all the time too - threatens lawsuits at a drop of a hat, yet has no scruples about stealing other ideas and presenting them as their company's own, relying on their lawyers to fight it out.
I'd have a much easier time respecting the copyrights and such of companies like Microsoft if they did the same for others. Blah. ;)
Edit: above should read "Tiger is associated with their name and software (sales), and Apple should know this).
i hope if i go to buy Vista windows they dont send me Windows Vista :)
Is that a chicken you are trying to boot?
In Latvia [not a huge MSFT market], the word 'vista' has been
around for hundreds of years. It is a staple food item. It is the
common chicken -- vista. In Lithuania [again small market], make the s into an "sh" sound and you have the Lithuanian chicken -- višta.
"Where do you want to go with your chicken today?"
microsoft, asta la vista in court!
where can i buy one?