Our Admin, Neo, has some experience with the subject of this news item:

http://news.com.com/2100-1016-1015814.html

It appears that The Open Group is suing Apple for using the term Unix without licensing from The Open Group.

Can't we all just get along?
I can't wait to see the day when I can say UNIX in an IRC channel and not be flamed by pro-linux or pro-bsd purists (or their influenced script kiddies). If the open group is truly open, why then do they feel the need to charge royalties?

Thanks for the link.

that brings up some good points however...the open group's stance is that they charge a "reasonable" fee for registration, certification. aside from saying who can call what UNIX, they set a standard for what actually can be considered UNIX. UNIX, IMO is a pretty generic term, however it wouldnt be so great if some company puts out an OS that they claim is UNIX, but it is entirely not, that is their point i think.

Actually, others are claiming that X/Open is misusing a 'trademark' as a certification mark.

The USTPO has a special class of marks called 'certification marks.' This class of marks are used for certifications, not trademarks, per se.

There is a company called INUX that is challenging X/Open on this and other points:

www.inux.com

See this link at USPTO:

http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?r...entry=75680034

For more on certification marks, see this link:

http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/howtoapply/certmark.htm