Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cloud
    • Cloud
    • Storage

    Microsoft to Rebrand SkyDrive After UK Court Ruling

    Written by

    Pedro Hernandez
    Published August 1, 2013
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      SkyDrive, Microsoft’s popular cloud file storage service, will undergo a name change following the software giant’s defeat in a trademark case brought by the British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB).

      BSkyB launched legal proceedings against Microsoft in the United Kingdom, asserting that Redmond’s SkyDrive brand infringed on its Sky trademarks. On June 28, Justice Sarah Asplin of the England and Wales High Court ruled in BSkyB’s favor.

      In her judgment, Asplin cited consumer confusion as a factor in her decision. She stated that “if one undertakes a global assessment there is every reason to conclude that there is a likelihood of confusion in the average consumer in the sense that there is a risk that the public might believe that the services come from the same undertaking or one which is economically linked.”

      In effect, Microsoft’s use of SkyDrive brand had been invalidated in Europe. The company originally planned to appeal the decision but has since reversed course.

      Rather than revisit the issue in court, or come up with an alternative label for Europe, Microsoft entered into a settlement deal with BSkyB that will allow the software company to use the SkyDrive name as it prepares to launch a global rebranding effort.

      In a press statement, the companies announced that “Sky will allow Microsoft to continue using the SkyDrive name for a reasonable period of time to allow for an orderly transition to a new brand.” The deal’s exact terms, which include a monetary component, are being kept under wraps.

      BSkyB warned that Sky is off-limits, saying that it “will remain vigilant in protecting the Sky brand and will continue to take appropriate action against those companies who seek to use our trademark without consent.”

      Microsoft, meanwhile, signaled that the company is moving on. “We’re glad to have resolution of this naming dispute, and will continue to deliver the great service our hundreds of millions of customers expect, providing the best way to always have your files with you.”

      The companies said that settlement “reflects the desire of both companies to focus on joint projects to benefit their customers.” The companies have partnered to bring Sky programming to the Xbox 360, an agreement they plan to extend to the upcoming Xbox One console.

      As an alternative to online storage services such as Dropbox and Google, SkyDrive has emerged as one of Microsoft’s successes in the hot cloud services market.

      On Feb. 8, SkyDrive group program manager Omar Shahine announced that the cloud storage platform had scored a major achievement. “Recently, we reached a big milestone; our customers are now storing over a billion Office documents on SkyDrive!” Tami Reller, Microsoft’s chief marketing officer, announced on May 7 that SkyDrive had surpassed 250 million users.

      Lately, SkyDrive has taken on a more prominent role in Microsoft’s software and services ecosystem. The platform provides cloud file storage, share and syncing services for the company’s cloud-enabled Office products, namely Office 2013 and Office 365. Windows 8 and RT offer deep SkyDrive integration and will become even deeper with the upcoming release of Windows 8.1.

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a writer for eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×