Microsoft give up “Metro” name, the main reason maybe the trademark dispute

August 3 news, according to media reports, after using it for nearly 2 years, Microsoft has decided to abandon the use of the word "Metro", The most likely cause is a trademark dispute with the German company Metro AG.

The well-known technology blog site Verge reported that Microsoft have informed the developers to stop using the word "Metro" in the Windows8 and Windows Phone application, because the "Metro" has a trademark dispute. Now, Microsoft seems to completely abandon the use of the word "Metro". Just a few days ago, when Microsoft Release Outlook.com, it also touted its simple style of the Metro design, and now they have to change the name.

Microsoft spokesman said the company will abandon the use of the word "Metro", because it is just a code, and an informal product name, during Many products development, the Metro style is only used as a code, and with the product release date approaching, the communication target from the industry turn to the average consumer, we will use the product name .

This statement sounds not sincere. when Release Windows Phone 7 in October 2010, Microsoft began to vigorously promote the "Metro" design, in a very long time the promotion Win8 also use this word, it still use the Metro on a Microsoft tutorial pages. The following is the official description of Metro in Microsoft Windows Phone 7 :

Metro is the name of the new design language for Windows Phone 7 interface create, when Having the opportunity to completely reinvent the wheel, Windows Phone design team will seek inspiration from a number of ways to determine the principles of the new generation mobile phone interface, The new design language not only offers a unique immersive experience to the Windows Phone 7 users, it will also bring vitality to a third party application, it provide a good bottom line for designers and developers to Metro standard, help them successfully developed for small devices using the gesture control Windows Phone 7 experience.

Microsoft do not want to admit is because a costly trademark disputes to abandon the use of "Metro", so they say the "Metro" is just a code.