I’ve had a blog on MSN Spaces for quite some time, though I really don’t use it. Today when I went there just to see if my blog was still there, I thought I had accidentally been re-directed to an Ubuntu website. What? Hmmm, yea, interesting.
If you look at the new logo for MSN Spaces, you’ll see it has a remarkable resemblance to the logo for Ubuntu. It’s so similar in fact, that I’m sure there is a case for copyright or trademark infringement here, the only questions being who was there first, or has it been trademarked?
I think it’s frustrating and I’ll tell you why. I don’t know who was first, but I’ll tell you how I think this is going to shake out. Microsoft will have had this logo in place for a sufficient amount of time that it becomes “familiar” with a large number of people, regardless of whether they were first or not. They will then file a suit against the group that develops Ubuntu requiring them to change/remove their current logo as it could be misconstrued as a Microsoft product, or a Microsoft supported product which it is not. Ubuntu will have to remove the logo, change it and have an unhappy following, at least until they make a new logo that kicks Microsoft’s as* and trademark it before the evil empire can do the same dastardly thing.
Of course, I’m probably wrong here and MS has no remote interest in taking down Ubuntu over a simple logo. However, this one example shows how easy it is to make a logo that is “similar” but “different”, but not different enough to immediately recognize the difference. It would be like me taking the bowtie logo for Cheverolet, and then hogging an oval into the center similar to Ford, and calling it a “Shord”. On first glimpse it looks like Chevy, but wait, there is something different, so it must not be, it becomes confusing, is it a Chevy or is it not.
Is it Ubuntu or is it not? The same confusion exists here, and let me tell you if it was Ford and Chevy, they would be on my as* fast if I put this logo on a production product, especially if it was car.
But what if Ubuntu has the logo first? Well my friends, do you really think Ubuntu has the kind of money it takes to go up against Microsoft? If you do, I have some property on the Moon I’d like to sell you. The answer is no, Ubuntu would not be able to do that and the fact is, if MS is so inclined they could make Ubuntu change, MS has the lawyer power and the money to pay them. The only thing going for Ubuntu is that it’s basically another free OS from the *nix community and there really isn’t any money to go after. The best thing MS could hope for, is to get the Ubuntu logo removed.
I hope it doesn’t happen, I like Ubunto and it’s logo, and I think MS really should have no fear about the similarity. I just thought it striking as I surfed out to MSN Spaces today, that’s all.
Asa Jay
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