Shortly after Google and HTC released the Nexus One, Sony Ericsson came forward to say Google had initially approached them to make the device. SE turned it down on the grounds of not wanting to be a sub-contractor for another company. Of course, SE’s Xperia X10 in many ways pales in comparison to the Nexus One, so maybe it’s for the best they never got their hands on it. Either way, Sony Ericsson has applied for a trademark on a “Nexus UI,” described as being “interface software for mobile devices and software for enhancing user experience.”
The filing was made in both the US and Europe, and has so far been initially blocked in the States. The reason being an existing trademark for “Visual Nexus,” which is similar in more than just the name. It, too, is a trademark for graphical user interface software.
Sony Ericsson may appeal the initial block, but still little is known about what their Nexus UI would be. Could SE have changed their tune and agreed to develop an upcoming phone in Google’s Nexus line? That isn’t happening any time soon, as Google would no doubt be involved in that filing and Motorola already has dibs on the next Nexus device (I have my doubts as to whether one will be released by Google at all). Still, seems a bit strange that a company who has recently been pushing out Android devices would want to trademark a user interface that just so happens to have the same name as Google’s own handset.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
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