More work for Intel’s lawyers
Two weeks ago we reported system builder Dell was suing ruggedized handheld device maker Psion Teklogix, which is the holder of ‘NETBOOK' as a registered trademark. Dell is alleging that NETBOOK is no longer an active trademark of Psion and thus should be liberated from its ownership.
At the time of writing we wondered why it was Dell and not Intel that was bringing the action, as it has been Intel that has successfully pushed for the term NETBOOK to represent sub-laptops, which are mostly powered by Intel CPUs. A few days later it emerged that Intel has indeed brought its own similar action.
Now Psion is countersuing. Court documents dated 27 February 2009 obtained by a website called savethenetbooks.com, which appears to be an independent blog campaigning against Psion's ownership of the NETBOOK trademark, show that Psion is suing Intel for the damages caused it by Intel's use of the term.
"Use by Intel of the designation NETBOOK has caused and is now causing severe and irreparable harm to Psion, to the value of its NETBOOK mark, and to the goodwill associated therewith," alleges the document.
For good measure, Psion is also suing Intel for cyber-squatting. It's alleging that Intel's ownership of the domain netbook.com, which currently automatically links to a page on Intel.com explaining the uses of its Atom processor, is unlawful for the same reasons as its use of the NETBOOK term in general are.
We could find no mention of Dell in the court document, but it concluded by asking that the case be taken to trial by jury.
