Compliance Toolkit

IBM accused of trademark infringement

Tags:
Trademark,
IP,
IBM

Published: 10 Jan 2005 16:05 GMT

IBM is reportedly being sued by a Chinese software company over alleged trademark infringement.

.The case between IBM and Chinese firm Shanghai Shenji Computer Software Company is currently under review in Beijing's Chaoyang People's Court, according to news site ChinaTechNews on Monday.

IBM declined to discuss details of the case. "It is IBM's policy not to comment on ongoing litigation," said an IBM UK spokesman.

ChinaTechNews reported that IBM publicised its software products in China using the phrases "Shen Ji" and "Shen Ji Miao Suan", which translate as "wonderful foresight". Shanghai Shenji Computer Software Company claims to own the trademarks and have asked IBM to pay 500,000 renminbi (£32,214) as compensation and to make a public apology.

IBM is no stranger to lawsuits. SCO has accused IBM of breaching its contract and infringing its copyright by moving proprietary Unix technology into Linux -- a claim that has made SCO with many in the open source movement.