” SkyDrive” to be renamed after losing a trademark case to a UK broadcasting company
After losing the trademark case files by the British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) in a UK court over infringement of its name by Microsoft’s SkyDrive, the software giant has reportedly agreed to change the name of its cloud storage service SkyDrive worldwide.
A settlement was reached between Microsoft and BSkyB on Wednesday following which Microsoft has agreed that it will not appeal against the court ruling and that BSkyB will allow Microsoft to continue to use the brand name “for a reasonable period of time to allow for an orderly transition to a new brand.”
The settlement agreement also features financial and other terms but neither BSkyB nor Microsoft disclosed any further details due to the confidential nature of the clauses.
In a statement to The Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson also confirmed changing the name stating ,”We’re glad to have resolution of this naming dispute, and will continue to deliver the great service our hundreds of millions of customers expect, providing the best way to always have your files with you.”
A UK court had already ruled in June 2013 that the SkyDrive product name infringes on BSkyB’s Sky trademark, under which it operates satellite TV services, primarily in the UK, with channels like Sky Sports and Sky News. The ruling was effective across the European Union. The British Sky Broadcasting company also offers an Internet storage service similar to Microsoft’s SkyDrive.
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