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Article: The Word According to Microsoft
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Microsoft(R) Corp., the universe's preeminent developer of
computer software, shows an interest in owning the English language.
At least that's the way Scott McNealy, chief executive of Sun
Microsystems Inc., describes Microsoft(R)'s market power.
But McNealy's metaphor has a real-world analogue. If they can't
own all of English, the guys from Redmond, Wash., are reasonable --
they'll settle for control over selected words and groups of words.
Through the trademark process, Microsoft(R) already has protected
(or is in the process of protecting) the words Windows(R), Bob(T),
Flight Simulator(T) and Natural Keyboard(T), to name a few.
And then there's the word Bookshelf(R). Microsoft(R) has ...