CHICAGO (CN) - Android Data Corp. claims Google, the Open Handset Alliance and 45 other companies violated its "Android" trademark by launching an "Android business alliance" after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's had refused to let Google trademark the term, citing plaintiff's software trademark.
Erich Specht says he incorporated Android's Dungeon in 1998, and has developed software and applications under that name since then. He says his Android Data software enables remote administration of Web sites, and that he has licensed it to customers worldwide. He filed for an Android trademark in 2000 and the US PTO granted it in 2002, he says.
In October 2007, Google filed for an Android trademark, also for software, and the US PTO rejected it in February 2008, Specht says in his federal complaint. But Google and a slew of others launched their "Android" software campaign in November 2007, Specht says, selling goods and services worldwide using his trademark. He demands an injunction, accounting, and millions of dollars in damages. He is represented by Martin Murphy of Long Grove, Ill.
Defendants include Google, the Open Handset Alliance, China Mobile Communications, Motorola, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Vodafone, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba.
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