Gizmodo Australia » psion

Psion’s Netbook Copyright Fight Is Officially Dead in the Water

Adam Frucci — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +0000

As rumoured, Psion’s dickish legal claim to own the word “Netbook” is officially over thanks to Intel.

Psion PLC announces that Psion and Intel Corporation have settled the trade mark cancellation and infringement litigation brought in the Northern District of California relating to the ‘Netbook’ trademark registration.

The litigation has been settled through an amicable agreement under which Psion will voluntarily withdraw all of its trademark registrations for ‘Netbook’. Neither party accepted any liability. In light of this amicable agreement, Psion has agreed to waive all its rights against third parties in respect of past, current or future use of the ‘Netbook’ term.

They don’t say exactly what caused this change of heart, probably because saying “Intel gave us a stack of cash and told us to piss off” doesn’t sound very professional. [SlashGear via CrunchGear]

Rumour: Netbook Debate Ends With A Quiet Settlement?

Jack Loftus — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Or perhaps it ended with literally nothing at all. Regardless, it appears as though the netbook debate, started by Psion and now purportedly given a finishing move by Intel, is over.

French web site Blogeee reports that the two companies, locked in a somewhat ridiculous legal dance for the past several months, have reached a settlement.

Few details have surfaced regarding the settlement, but according to Blogeee, Psion all but gave up the fight and has agreed to “allow” other computer makers to use the term netbook. Mum’s the word on what concessions, if any, Intel gave up to Psion.

So, the long terrible debate over who could say netbook and who couldn’t is apparently over. It’s also a Sunday, so, there’s that too. [Blogeee via Liliputing]

Dell Wants to Set ‘Netbook’ Free

Matt Buchanan — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Psion, the wee company that decided no one should say netbook so it could pursue the spoils of trademark battles, just got a kick in the balls from Dell.

Dell has filed a cancellation request with the USPTO for Psion’s trademark on the word “netbook,” which, as Dell asserts, has become a generic term for small, crappy-but-cheap computers that everybody wants for some reason. Psion did actually use to make something called The Netbook, but it’s really old and they haven’t sold it for a long time.

As Rob points out, Dell’s been very careful not to use the term so far—so has Sony, though it’s more of a marketing thing for the Vaio P—but obviously they’ve got their eye on it. Given who’s fighting who, I’d squeeze the word tight, since they aren’t going to own it for a whole lot longer. [USPTO via BBG]

Netbook Debate Heats Up As Google Bans Term From Ad Network

Jack Loftus — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Netbook creator Psion won another battle in its war against casual use of the term “netbook” this week as Google banned the term from its lucrative ad network. Seriously now, what should we call them?

JK on the Run was in touch with Psion recently, and let it be known that Google had completed an investigation into the trademark claim. The result is Google officially recognises the fact that “netbook” is a protected trademark.

“Google does these investigations as they are impacted when they run ads on their network. The determination by Google that the term “netbook” is duly registered and protected has prompted them to inform their ad customers that the term can no longer be used in Google ads,” wrote JK’s James Kendrick.

No Google support = Game Set Match? [JK On the Run via Boing Boing]

Retailers Actually Being Told To Stop Using The Term ‘Netbook’

Nick Broughall — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:12:48 +0000

Remember when Psion came out and said they had a trademark on the word Netbook and that everyone should stop using it? Well they actually meant it. What a bunch of douchebags! According to an email sent from Retravision head office this morning, the retailer “MUST stop using the definition ‘NETBOOK’” (their caps). Not only that, but they have to remove all references to the word from “all collateral, web, presentations etc”. You have to feel for retailers in this situation – netbooks is such an apt way to describe these cheap little computers, and even though they’re working on a replacement name it almost certainly won’t have the same sort of marketing appeal.

RETAILERS TO STOP USING THE TERM “NETBOOK”

Please be advised that we MUST stop using the definition “NETBOOK”

Please remove from all collateral, web, presentations etc. and communicate the changes to the sales team.

They are working on a replacement name and will advise shortly. The reason is that a UK company had registered the name “Netbook”.

Toshiba has been the first to advise this, though there is no doubt all other vendors are affected.

What Do You Think the New Term For ‘Netbook’ Should Be?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Today we learned that an obscure UK company called Psion has claimed ownership of the term “netbook.” If we can’t use that term anymore, what should we call it? Give us your best ideas.

Psion Orders Websites to Stop Using the Term Netbook

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:59:50 +0000

Dear Psion,

Netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook, netbook. Netbook.

Much love,
Giz

p.s. Netbook.

[Gearlog]

UMID’s Mini Netbook Makes Eees Look Massive

Kit Eaton — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:30:08 +0000

Yes, the netbook market is tired and pretty jam-packed, but check out this shiny beast: it’s a mini-netbook from Korean manufacturer UMID. And it’s tiny. There’s no official size info, but it looks smaller than a paperback book, and comparable to the old Psion PDAs, if you remember ‘em, but far more capable.

It’s Atom-powered, of course, with 1GB memory and up to 32GB of SSD storage, and crazily jams in Korean wireless broadband WiBro, digital TV receivers, HSDPA, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Its touchscreen is a respectable 1024×600 pixels, and while the keyboard may challenge the fat-fingered, the machine can run XP, Vista or Linux. Skinny-fingered netbook fans will have to hold their horses though as there’s no info on price or whether it’ll make it over the Pacific. [Aving]