4 ms·

Just some facts for those that don't understand how Metro AG can strong-arm Microsoft into changing their brand name: Metro ows Media Markt ( http://en.wikipedi

by Argorak 14y ago

Just some facts for those that don't understand how Metro AG can strong-arm Microsoft into changing their brand name: Metro ows Media Markt ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Markt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Markt ) and Saturn ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(store) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(store) ), both of which are huge electronics stores in Europe all the way to Russia. Media Markt is the second largest electronics retailer after Best Buy _worldwide_. Both already have an agreement with Apple about store in store. The worst thing Microsoft could do is piss them off, even if they would win the trademark dispute in court. Also, it would lead to the strange situation that you could buy "Metro" (the UI) products in a "Metro" store, which could lead to actual confusion.

Gring 14y ago
Metro AG is not a brand recognized by the public. People only know the names of its retailers. I live in an area with those stores, and if you asked any random passerbys what "Metro" is, they would come up with references to public transport, not Metro AG. This is also not the first time Metro AG pressed other brands that are interacting with the public into a name change. It did the same thing with the free european commuter's newspaper "Metro", resulting in a name change in at least one country (Switzerland). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2008/sep/22/europe2 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2008/sep/22/europ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_International http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_International
- Argorak 14y ago
  Sorry, but thats no true. Metro does have stores called METRO which are well known and they do have electronics departments (hence the reference to being able to buy "Metro" at "Metro"). Not internationally maybe, but in Germany, everyone knows Metro as a cash and carry store as well. http://www.n-tv.de/img/67/674025/O_1000_680_680_metro.jpg http://www.n-tv.de/img/67/674025/O_1000_680_680_metro.jpg And as I said: even if Metro AGs claim is not valid, they are not one to piss off as someone who sells electronics or software.
  - Gring 14y ago
    Interesting. So close and I've never heard of them. But it's a wholesale retailer, e.g. it's targeted towards registered professional customers rather than end consumers. My point still stands, the large majority of the public does not interact with them. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Cash_and_Carry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Cash_and_Carry
    - Argorak 14y ago
      Close to a Metro store, having access to a Metro card is like having a driving license: most people have it or they don't want it. I would say that most of the customers there are not "professionals". I live close to one and use it as a supermarket. Also, Microsoft does also sell to professional customers, so it is still a conflict of interest. And, my point also stands: I don't care whether Metros claim is valid or not. They are a major distribution partner and Microsoft is depending on them. This is why they can strong-arm Microsoft rather than having to go to court. I don't care the slightest about the "normal people"-argument, because it doesn't matter.
    - nodrama 14y ago
      Wholesale yes, but it's easy to get a card if you really want, and a lot of people in Romania have a card. Also you can get a one day pass. Worth it, because they negotiate very low prices with the suppliers. When MS came with the name Metro, I knew that there might be some problems, but then I thought that for sure MS has an army of lawyers and they figured everything out.
Argorak 14y ago
As I cannot edit my post anymore: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/08/microsoft-metro-out-windows-8-style-ui-in-amid-rumors-of-a-trademark-dispute/?comments=1&post=23125437#comment-23125437 http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/08/micros... links to the brand registration: http://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/395163897/DE http://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/39516389... Its rather long and includes: "Datenverarbeitungsgeräte und Computer, mit Programmen versehene maschinenlesbare Datenträger, Datenverarbeitungsprogramme" "Datenverarbeitungsprogramme" is basically any program handling Data.

by Argorak 14y ago

Gring 14y ago

Metro AG is not a brand recognized by the public. People only know the names of its retailers. I live in an area with those stores, and if you asked any random passerbys what "Metro" is, they would come up with references to public transport, not Metro AG. This is also not the first time Metro AG pressed other brands that are interacting with the public into a name change. It did the same thing with the free european commuter's newspaper "Metro", resulting in a name change in at least one country (Switzerland). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2008/sep/22/europe2 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2008/sep/22/europ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_International http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_International

Argorak 14y ago
Sorry, but thats no true. Metro does have stores called METRO which are well known and they do have electronics departments (hence the reference to being able to buy "Metro" at "Metro"). Not internationally maybe, but in Germany, everyone knows Metro as a cash and carry store as well. http://www.n-tv.de/img/67/674025/O_1000_680_680_metro.jpg http://www.n-tv.de/img/67/674025/O_1000_680_680_metro.jpg And as I said: even if Metro AGs claim is not valid, they are not one to piss off as someone who sells electronics or software.
- Gring 14y ago
  Interesting. So close and I've never heard of them. But it's a wholesale retailer, e.g. it's targeted towards registered professional customers rather than end consumers. My point still stands, the large majority of the public does not interact with them. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Cash_and_Carry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Cash_and_Carry
  - Argorak 14y ago
    Close to a Metro store, having access to a Metro card is like having a driving license: most people have it or they don't want it. I would say that most of the customers there are not "professionals". I live close to one and use it as a supermarket. Also, Microsoft does also sell to professional customers, so it is still a conflict of interest. And, my point also stands: I don't care whether Metros claim is valid or not. They are a major distribution partner and Microsoft is depending on them. This is why they can strong-arm Microsoft rather than having to go to court. I don't care the slightest about the "normal people"-argument, because it doesn't matter.
  - nodrama 14y ago
    Wholesale yes, but it's easy to get a card if you really want, and a lot of people in Romania have a card. Also you can get a one day pass. Worth it, because they negotiate very low prices with the suppliers. When MS came with the name Metro, I knew that there might be some problems, but then I thought that for sure MS has an army of lawyers and they figured everything out.

Argorak 14y ago

As I cannot edit my post anymore: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/08/microsoft-metro-out-windows-8-style-ui-in-amid-rumors-of-a-trademark-dispute/?comments=1&post=23125437#comment-23125437 http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/08/micros... links to the brand registration: http://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/395163897/DE http://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/39516389... Its rather long and includes: "Datenverarbeitungsgeräte und Computer, mit Programmen versehene maschinenlesbare Datenträger, Datenverarbeitungsprogramme" "Datenverarbeitungsprogramme" is basically any program handling Data.