"Android" May Cost Google Millions

What would you say to a guy who's taking Google and 47 other international companies to task for over $2 million each?

The man in question is Erich Specht, and his suit revolves around the word "Android," which is the name for Google's open source OS that it released in 2007.

Back in 2002, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Specht the trademark for his company, Android Data.

In October 2007, Google also tried to trademark the name "Android," but the USPTO turned them down, mainly because there still could be some confusion over the name, given that both companies make software.

In August 2008, Google came back again, citing that Android Data hadn't used the name for three years and the company was dissolved four years ago. USPTO said its decision was final: "Android" was still part of Android Design.

Google then asked for the trademark to be suspended until further clarification of its use could be determined. USPTO said that was fair, but Specht didn't agree. In his 71 page lawsuit, he not only indicts Google, but Texas Instruments, Nvidia, Motorola, Vodafone and 43 other companies.

But that's not all. In addition to $2 million from each of the companies involved in breaking trademark - for each breach - he also "requests" that all the companies be permanently blocked from using the Android name and that anything that carries the Android name be destroyed.

Now, while there's no way that the companies involved could pay that amount, an out-of-court settlement could be worth millions alone, and all Specht has to do is prove that Android Data is still functioning and is about to release a new product.

This may have been - Best. Trademark. Ever.

Source: The Register
(Image)