By Will Sturgeon, 8 February 2005 17:45
NEWS Bill Gates has been thrust into a naming row after he announced a European venture called EuroScience only to be told a few hours later that a body using that name already exists.
The Euroscience Association was founded in 1997 and represents researchers at all levels of academic scale as well as industry bodies working in scientific fields. It boasts 2,100 individual members and 31 institutional members.
However, speaking in Prague last week as part of his European tour, Bill Gates announced the foundation of EuroScience a partnership organisation intended to unite Microsoft with some of Europe's finest researchers.
It's an announcement which didn't find favour with Jean Patrick Connerade, president of the original Euroscience, who appeared more than willing to take a cheap shot at the Microsoft boss.
"Mr Gates does not approve of software piracy, so I am sure he does not intend to steal our name," said Connerade.
Addressing the confusion between the names, Connerade said: "If Mr Gates wants to help us by injecting millions of dollars into Euroscience, then that is wonderful but I am surprised as the elected president of Euroscience, I was not consulted."
He also believes Gates is guilty of having not done his homework, adding there is little excuse for the world's richest man not knowing about Euroscience.
"Euroscience is a registered Association of scientists who give up time voluntarily in support of European science. We have members in forty European countries and, with the help of sponsors, we organise a pan-European Forum on all the sciences, to which thousands of people come. 350 journalists attended the last ESOF in Stockholm. It was widely featured in the international press, even making the front page of the Financial Times. Officers of the American Association for the Advancement of Science were invited, so American scientists also know about us," he said.
Microsoft is reported to be in talks with Euroscience to discuss how the issue can be resolved.
Comments
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1. David King
So Bill Gates is now into organisation name "piracy", i.e. takes the name of an existing organisation for his new organisation. This is known legally as "passing off", just as if I were to set up a company called Mikrosoft, Gates would object strongly and force me out of business. If Gates gets away with calling his new organisation EuroScience without benefitting the original Euroscience, then I think the whole world (or at least Europe) should retaliate by using pirated Microsoft software. Bill Gates does not like piracy, yet he may well be the biggest pirate of them all.
2. Stanislav Dmitriev
At last someone caught him hot!
3. Roj Ash
"Microsoft is reported to be in talks with Euroscience to discuss how the issue can be resolved."
You would think there was not much to discuss - MS should think of a new name.
4. anonymous
Perhaps silicon.com could hold a competition for a new name for Bill's venture!
Fatal Error?
EuroPatch?
SoftScience?
Eurowin (or is that a bookie)?
5. anonymous
This smells of a error in the name research, No doubt after M$ has paid a few million Euro's to be able to use the name, the EU will fine M$ th usual tax for their existance in Europe.
6. David Howe
Not the first time, when they first talked about handhelds they tried to use the name Palm, ignoring the pre-existing Palm calling it a generic name. Someone USR lawyers gave them a lesson in trademarks but it would appear it hasn't stuck.
7. anonymous
Get an apology from Microsoft? Perhaps 'EerieSilence' would be more appropriate!
8. Lionel A Smith
With the research and legal resources that Microsoft can call upon this is unlikely to be an oversight, just another example of Microsoft's thinking that they can afford to batter others into submission at the thought of expensive law suits.
9. John Rutter
I'm quite prepared to believe that this was an innocent - but stupid - mistake, but most likely it is just plain arrogance and MS didn't check out the name first.
Perhaps this is a clue to how Microsoft will approach search engine technology? Only include what they like...
How about setting up 'The Microsoft Association', or 'The MicroSoft Association'? I don't suppose Gates' boys and girls in the legal department would like that much ;-)
10. anonymous
This one could have been checked out really simply:
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?FORM=MSNH&srch_type=0&q=Euroscience
Check out the first result, on Microsofts own search engine.