So Microsoft just got rid of the best part of their new Windows products (Windows 8, Windows Phone 8) - the name "Metro" UI. Ars technica reports that this is the reaction to a threat from some German retailer called Metro AG.
This is the official comment from Microsoft:
"We have used 'Metro style' as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines. As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names."
And by commercial names, they mean "Windows 8-style UI" for Windows 8 apps and "New User Interface" for all their new software products (one of which is the new web mail interface I previewed). I wish I was kidding, but I'm not. I can't really see them calling it "New User Interface" in 10 years. This is the perfect example of how not to future-proof your marketing strategy.
What the heck?
Call me crazy, but this reminds me of Apple settling with the Chinese company named Proview over the iPad trademark. Apple found a way to hold on to their competitive advantage (easily memorable name which fits into their product portfolio). But if Apple had Microsoft's management, their next year' product would be called the iPad "Big Touchscreen Device Kinda Like the iPhone".