Dell tries to trademark "cloud computing"
Dell is trying to trademark "cloud computing" with no real substance to the claim.
Sam Johnston, a member of the Cloud Computing group (Google Groups login required) posted that Dell had used "Cloud Computing" with TM in a press release and decided to do a little digging.
Oddly the application was not opposed and from what it appears on the Industry Standard it may be too late.
If Dell wins the application and enforces the trademark it could dramatically alter the cloudscape.
Notice in the filing below that there is no first-use date associated with the claim whereas there are a number of articles etc. prior to the filing date that use the "cloud computing" term.
From the trademark filing:
International Class: 040
Class Status: Active
Custom manufacture of computer hardware for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others
First Use Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
First Use in Commerce Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
International Class: 042
Class Status: Active
Design of computer hardware for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others; customization of computer hardware for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others; design and development of networks for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others; Consulting services for data centers and mega-scale computing environments in the fields of design, selection, implementation, customization and use of computer hardware and software systems for others; Consulting services for data centers and mega-scale computing environments in the fields of design, selection, implementation, customization and use of computer hardware and software systems for others
Basis: 1(b)
First Use Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
First Use in Commerce Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)