- Jan 26, 2014
- 188
Microsoft is rebranding its SkyDrive cloud storage service as OneDrive. While the new name comes with a positive spin, it occurred after Microsoft lost a trademark case against the UK-based British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB).
On the surface, Microsoft’s renaming of its cloud-based storage service SkyDrive seems like it was meant to be. “We know that increasingly you will have many devices in your life, but you really want only one place for your most important stuff. One place for all of your photos and videos. One place for all of your documents. One place that is seamlessly connected across all the devices you use. You want OneDrive for everything in your life,” it said in a blog post on the OneDrive blog, written by Ryan Gavin, general manager, Consumer Apps & Services at Microsoft.
The announcement even comes with a flashy video to demonstrate OneDrive’s functions. Yet it didn’t happen purely because the Redmond giant decided the new name better represented the product. SkyDrive is becoming OneDrive because Microsoft lost a trademark battle and was forced to change the name, PCMag reports. The trademark lawsuit was concluded in August.
SkyDrive will start to roll out to users and new customers. Current SkyDrive and SkyDrive pro users will experience no change other than the name and branding. The service will operate under the new name OneDrive and OneDrive for Business. The OneDrive blog post offers a link where users can get more information and request to be notified when the name changes.
Microsoft has had a few months to institute changes to SkyDrive. “In July, Microsoft agreed to rebrand its SkyDrive division following a decision by the English High Court, which found Redmond guilty of infringing on BSkyB’s trademark. The tech giant initially planned to appeal, but reconsidered,” Stephanie Mlot from PCMag wrote.
Microsoft has fought this battle before with other properties. Prior to the release of Windows 8 Microsoft went through a rebranding of the operating system’s backbone “Metro,” which was renamed “Modern UI.” The name change was instituted in advance of a threatened lawsuit.
The Redmond giant has been on the enforcing end of protecting its own properties. Back in 2004 the company issued a cease and desist order to Canadian teenager Mike Rowe for the teen’s MikeRoweSoft website. The suit was settled for an Xbox, and Rowe transferred the domain name to Microsoft.
The current case, SkyDrive, is a larger issue because it is a major product for Microsoft. It is also a big issue because of the popularity of cloud services. An official launch date on the name OneDrive is still pending, but marketing was started as Microsoft produced a video to announce the new name. It is likely that Microsoft will push through some upgrades and new product features under the changeover, PCWorld reports.
“Microsoft appears to be taking this opportunity to do more than just give its online storage service a new name. ‘Get ready for an even better place to store and share your favorite things across all of your favorite devices,’ Microsoft’s OneDrive splash page reads, suggesting new features are on their way,” PCWorld’s Ian Paul wrote.
