Design Company Bing Sues Microsoft Over Trademark
Bing Information design, a small Missouri company has filed suit in a St. Louis Circuit court during the week. The suit alleges trademark infringement and unfair competition by Microsoft.
The design company, which offers computer-related illustrations and other services, has used the name Bing since 2000 and applied to register the trademark “Bing!” on May 26, according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records. The USPTO initially refused the application on Aug. 25, giving the company six months to file supporting information.
Microsoft filed its application for the trademark “Bing” (without the exclamation mark) on March 2.
Microsoft’s use of the name Bing and its aggressive advertising have “gutted” efforts by the small design company to distinguish itself, the statement said. Bing.biz, a Web site linked to in the statement, showed sample graphics from the company and gave the job titles of its two principals as “overlord-in-chief” and “the brains behind the operation.”
Microsoft has not been served with a complaint but is aware of the lawsuit based on media reports, a Microsoft spokesman said in an e-mail.
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