The “Save the Netbooks” campaign is fighting the impending trademark threat from Psion Teklogix, who have given until the end of March 2009 to cease using the term citing trademarks relating to a line of products discontinued over 5 years ago.

For more information visit http://www.savethenetbooks.com/.

PS does it really make much difference that they won't sue you if they're going to go after the manufacturers and retailers anyway? Well, read their statement on the site under 'Learn' and you'll see you should be fine (actually with any luck we all should be fine!)

My best guess is as follows: if Psion can succesfully curtail public use of the name, they will have control over a term that has serious weight in the marketplace. Then they could sell the rights to the word netbook, perhaps to dell or some other major player, who would then have exclusive use of the name. The key, though, is first getting control of the name, which is what they're trying to do now.

Here is your link Brad:
http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html
Get out your checkbook (about $300) and file.

As to that qualifying as a “diligent defense” (only defending against
“for-profit” use) in U.S. Trademark law is a matter for the court system.
If you dig through the public records at the PTO you will find there are
a large number of “Hormel Foods Vs. …” on that subject.
Also that this point has been going on for many years without a decision.

With Pison's representatives taking the same position over 'Netbook” as
that of Hormel Foods position over 'SPAM' does not mean they are correct;
but it does assure the legal firm of decades more income.

I am not a lawyer either – but picked up some first hand knowledge on
this subject while dealing with Hormel Foods (SPAM(r) luncheon meat)
and my own SpamViz product/web-sites. (Hormel out spent me.)

Why now?
If you check over the documents in that link to TDR in the earlier blog,
you will find a recent change in legal representation. Pison's new legal
firm may be 'more diligent' than the previous one.

So in other words, if Psion didn't sue other companies/bloggers over “Netbook” (especially Intel), they have already lost the trademark to Netbook. This is how it works in the United States, and may not necessarily be true in other countries in the world. The cease and desist orders are merely scare tactics which hold little meaning.

(by the way, I work for the government, and deal with lawyers a lot, though I am not a lawyer myself)