Microsoft has filed a formal application for declaration of invalidity with the European Union's Community Trade Mark office over Apple's "App Store" trademark.



From TUAW:

It's no wonder Microsoft doesn't want Apple to be the sole owner of the term. "App Store" just has a nice and easy ring to it that "Android Market," "Ovi Store" and "Windows Phone Marketplace" just don't have. In a statement after the EU Community Trade Mark office filing, Microsoft said they were "seeking to invalidate Apple's trademark registration for APP STORE and APPSTORE because we believe that they should not have been granted because they both lack distinctiveness. The undisputed facts establish that 'app store' means exactly what it says, a store offering apps, and is generic for the services that the registrations cover."

  Microsoft hopes to invalidate Apple's "App Store" trademark in Europe too