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August 6, 2008 11:05 PM PDT

Dell gets denied "Cloud Computing" trademark (how about "Clown Computing" instead)

by Dave Rosenberg

Clown Computing appears to still be available

Clown Computing appears to still be available

(Credit: Comic Strip Generator)
InternetNews is reporting that the US Patent and Trademark Office canceled its "Notice of Allowance" on Dell's application to trademark the term "Cloud Computing" and changed the status to "returned to examination."

Good for the PTO for paying attention and realizing that such a term is commonplace.

This whole thing was so goofy I am glad its dead.

Dave Rosenberg dishes up "Software, Interrupted" with nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs to open-source enterprise software companies. He is co-founder of MuleSource and currently serves as the general manager of Hardy Way. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can contact Dave via e-mail at softwareinterrupted@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @daveofdoom.
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by Maccess August 7, 2008 2:00 AM PDT
There go my hopes of patenting the phrases "board meeting," "mobile computing," "web surfing," and other catchy phrases I thought up myself!
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by GlennAllen August 7, 2008 8:16 AM PDT
That's like saying because of the trademark for PayDay candy bar, no one can use the word/phrase payday/pay-day/"pay day" (variations thereof)... which isn't the case. So, not that meaningful actually whether Dell can trademark "cloud computing" or not for its server names.
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by madflacker August 7, 2008 9:48 AM PDT
Uh oh. Is "cloud computering" still available? Because I'm squatting on cloudcomputering.tv, cloudcomputering.gov and productizemycloudcomputer.net and waiting for my big payday.
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About Software, Interrupted

In "Software, Interrupted," Dave Rosenberg discusses disruption in the software market, as well as the products and services that keep business technology norms in perpetual flux.

With nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience spanning from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs, Dave co-founded open-source software company MuleSource and now serves as general manager of Hardy Way. He also happens to be a U.S. patent holder and a workaholic. Technology is his best friend and mortal enemy.

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