VMware may have issues in using the name vSphere

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As most virtualization.info readers know by now, VMware is preparing to change the name of its flagship product bundle: Virtual Infrastructure.
The new name that emerged at the end of December 2008, during the beta phase, is vSphere.

Despite this plan the company may have some issues in using this name as it’s a copyrighted term, registered by a US company called Surface Optics Corporation.

One of the company employees informally highlighted the possible (and future) copyright violation by commenting a post on the Jason Boche blog, a well-know VMware expert.

It’s unclear if the threat is concrete or not, but possibly vSphere was just the name used during the beta, so there’s no risk of copyright infringement at all.