Microsoft has asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to stop Apple from trademarking the words "App Store".
The US software maker said the term is too generic and that competitors should also be able to use it.
Microsoft associate general counsel Russell Pangborn said an app store is an app store. Like shoe store or toy store, it is a generic term that is commonly used by companies, governments and individuals that offer apps.
The iPad maker submitted an application for the phrase in 2008. The app store currently has more than 300,000 apps available for the company’s products such as the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad touchscreen tablet computer.
Microsoft also launched its own app store last year with the release of its Windows Phone 7 smartphone operating system.
