The Frigidaire point is very well taken. Certainly brand names are used broadly regionally…for example in some parts of the US any soft drink is a Coke, or any chocolate covered snack cake is a Ding Dong.

Other brand names become completely universal…all Americans use Bandaids and eat Jello, no matter what the actual brand name is.

Perhaps Netbook could become common usage in a similar fashion.

I still feel that it would be a long strange court fight for Psion. For one thing it has been a year since the term Netbook started to enter general usage, that may have already voided their trademark since they waited this long, though I am nothing like a lawyer. Win or lose, I don’t think this will have much effect on what consumers, or bloggers, call the devices.

Z

Unless a court finds that the trademark has become generic, it shouldn’t be too difficult. First, sue the manufacturers using “netbook” in their own creatives. If they win, the manufacturers will have to change the name. Second, sue anybody selling “netbooks” (or “netbook” accessories), which will get rid of all commercial usages. Finally, send reasonably friendly cease-and-desist letters to any media still using the term.

I think the original letter was amicable enough, but maybe they implemented the third step a bit too quickly.

I heard that, for some period of time, refrigerators were called Frigidaires, but Frigidaire seems to have kept their trademark, so maybe it can be done.

Steve