Name of my program and trademark law

[Little John]

Hi all,

I'm going to write and to release a small tool for MS PowerPoint on Windows as FreeWare.
For the name of the program I have something in mind like “Tweak PowerPoint” or similar. Does anyone know if I would violate trademark law and might get problems with Microsoft if the name contains the term “PowerPoint”?

[BarryG]

See Microsoft's trademark rules here -> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/i ... trademarks

In your case, no, you can't use their brand names in your product names:

[Little John]

I see, thank you!

[Kiffi]

Under certain circumstances, one could abbreviate PowerPoint?

* Tweak PP
* Tweak PowPoi
* Tweak PoPo

[Little John]

I will have to stretch my imagination a bit for a suitable name.
Kiffi, thank you for the suggestions!

For Non-German readers:
“Popo” is a German coseword for butt.

[Rinzwind]

Afaik you are allowed to add "for Microsoft PowerPoint" to your promotional outings. That's what many do. Just not in the main oroduct name.

[jacdelad]

That's interesting. I have an Outlook Viewer which is clearly not made by Microsoft and also very widespread.

[Axolotl]

I have always been cautious when it comes to product names. i.e. a safe distance to existing products - especially from large market companions - is always recommended.
What can happen: nothing, because it is not seen or tolerated or there is a request for change (including suit for injunction)
And not to forget that law is very country-specific.
But that is always my pessimistic view on these things.