Amazon Targets Swiss Firm Amazee With Trademark Claims

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 21, 2009 - 1:02pm.

Zurich, Switzerland - Online retail giant Amazon.com (NASD: AMZN) has targeted Switzerland-based social collaboration platform Amazee with trademark claims, both in its home country and here in the U.S., TechCrunch reported. Amazee maintains that its name derives from the word "amazing," and is pronounced "uh-may-zee," while Amazon.com has argued that "the mark 'Amazee' is not a natural derivative of 'amazing'. Amazee is a coined term where the dominant portion of the mark brings to mind Amazon, not 'amazing'."

According to Amazee, Amazon's lawyers are demanding Amazee be removed from the Swiss trade mark register, and are appealing registration of the company's name in the U.S.

The company is now trying to win public support for its position, and has launched a Facebook group and "Amazone vs. Amazee" page on its site.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/gei53 (TechCrunch)

http://www.amazee.com/us-v-them

http://www.amazee.com