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Murdoch claims Skype's name is too close to his own 'Sky'... and the EU rules in his favor
Think of this one as a little tidbit to enjoy with your morning coffee! BSkyB, the owner of the Sky TV brand and a large portion of mogul Rupert Murdoch's media empire, has claimed that Skype's trademark application is confusingly similar to the extant Sky TV trademark.You might be tittering at the stupidity, but apparently BSkyB even has consumer research to back up its claims! People actually get Skype and Sky confused. And, get this, the European Courts has recently also ruled in BSkyB's favor -- though, of course, Skype says it will appeal the decision.
This all comes as Skype seeks more funding with an IPO, and the trademark issue is mentioned in the filing. There's a very good chance that Skype won't be able to operate without Sky's permission (which will surely cost a licensing fee!) -- that, or they'll have to change their name.
It's not like 'Skype' ever really meant anything though, right?
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsMartijnAug 11th 2010 7:56AM
I think it's quite absurd on one hand since Sky and Skype aren't that similar me, but on the other hand: if there are actually customers that think otherwise... Well then maybe the court is right.
aMIGA_dUDEAug 11th 2010 8:02AM
This is silly.
But Sky do sell broadband / home landline phone services (Sky Talk).
http://www.sky.com/shop/broadband-talk/talk-options/
But still it silly, who did they interview anyway?
jordanAug 15th 2010 6:53AM
So he owns the word SKY.
No one can use this.
Everyone stop saying SKY.
Dont look up or you will get a fine and you will have to give him your food cos he said sky first.
F* him and his literally Sh*T company.
What do they do for the world, except make our children watch adverts, women watch soaps and men watch football. All of which are detrimental to the mental wellbeing of the individual.
LEts rename the Sky to something else because it might stop him making money.
I would kill the judge that ruled in favor of this. No point spreading those sorts of genes around.
We are in a patent and copywrite nightmare.
This is stopping development, it is stopping healthy competition.
If I developed a cure for cancer and patented it, ha ha f*ck u world, give me all your resources and I might let you have it.
down with Patent and copywrite laws!
up with freedom of information and social concience.
rells009Aug 11th 2010 8:59AM
This is ridiculous.
Only someone completely illiterate and/or deaf would be unable to make the distinction between Sky and SkyPE.
JeebusAug 11th 2010 12:15PM
Not if it's SkyB vs. SkyPE.
JayenkaiAug 11th 2010 9:59AM
I know exactly how they feel.
I went and bought a brand new Polo, the other day, and tried to drive it home..
..
Argh!! I bought the mints again!!!
JohnMWhiteAug 11th 2010 11:30AM
It's not the court's job to protect Sky from consumers being too stupid to tell the difference between the companies, and it's not as if they offer anything like the same service. This is nothing more than Sky flexing their bully muscles once more to squeeze even more money out of someone smaller than they are.
laeroAug 11th 2010 6:31PM
Google says Skype.
http://imgur.com/itRWG.png