First Vista, now Zune: Microsoft leaching Amiga names

[falemagn]

Who knows, but do your homework folks, a name is fair game if it's not properly registered.

The Linux guys don't seem  to think of it that way:

How can Linus Torvalds or LMI have existing rights over the word Linux if it's not registered here?

Because there is such a thing as an unregistered or "common law" trade mark whereby a person acquires rights in a name just by using it.

I say, AROS may have a case, and it might be fun to see where things go. :-)

[falemagn]

even if the name "Zune" is registered by the AROS team for the GUI, it is a registered name for a peace of software. The name is not registered for everything and so Microsoft could use the name for a peace of hardware.

Zune isn't just a name for a piece of HW. From the Zune  Info site:

The Zune name has been confirmed and is now been officially used as an umbrella brand for what Microsoft says is “a family of hardware and software products” targeting various digital entertainment services, which should be out around November/Christmas time.