In a development that will not play at all well in large parts of the industry, Microsoft Corp says that the US Patent & Trademark Office has opened the way for the company to gain a trademark on the word Windows when used to describe personal-computer software products. The ruling reverses the decision last year denying Microsoft the possibility of a trademark on Windows. Opponents of such a move, who in the past have expressed fears that the trademark would be used by Microsoft to bludgeon rivals, can comment on the proposed action before it takes effect, but according to the Wall Street Journal, the industry is now resigned to seeing the controversial trade mark granted.
