Autodesk's pursuit of registering DWG is like a washing machine spinning

The US PTO (patent and trademark office) reaffirmed Monday that Autodesk cannot register DWG as a trademark in the United States. But the office is allowing Autodesk to trademark words that embed DWG, such as DWG EXTREME, DWG TRUEVIEW, and DWG TRUECONVERT.

In addition, the PTO is allowing Autodesk to embed DWG in graphic elements -- like the one illustrated below, taken from the government document -- as long as Autodesk disclaims any exclusive rights in DWG apart from the graphic element.

 
DWG in a graphic element: permitted;
DWG on its own: not permitted

Autodesk is, however, allowed to appeal the decision, and it probably will do so. So the machine keeps on spinning around. Even washing machines, eventually, come to the end of their natural cycle.

I suppose the only good thing of all this is that Autodesk is now spending its own money on the fruitless ambition to "own" DWG, and is no longer making innocent others like SolidWorks or Open Design Alliance pay for defense.

Here is the direct link to the the decision released Monday: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-78852808-EXA-15.pdf. It's 30 pages long, yet makes for interesting history reading, if you are not up to date on all that has happened over the years.

 

Comments

[Anonymous]

The United States District Court in Virginia affirmed the TTAB's ruling on October 30, 2014. http://home.comcast.net/~jlw28129/DWG.pdf