August 16, 1996

---

Synet, a small Internet service provider is taking on Microsoft Corporation with a suit accusing Microsoft of trademark infringement in it's use of the Internet Explorer name.

Synet Inc, is an 18-person company in Downers Grove, Ill. that claims that it began using the Internet Explorer tag in 1994--a year before Microsoft launched its own Explorer product in August 1995--and filed for both Illinois and federal trademarks in July 1995. Synet CEO Dhiren Rana said the company has received an Illinois trademark for the name but the federal trademark is still pending, a fact that makes it impossible for Microsoft to trademark the name.

Rana said he has contacted Microsoft about the possible infringement, and Microsoft simply asked if both companies could share the name. Synet declined and has filed a suit in U.S. District Court for northern Illinois to stop Microsoft from using the name, and seeking unspecified damages. "If you have a trademark, you have to protect it or its gone" Rana said.

Ironically, Synet's Internet Explorer is a browser package featuring Netscape Navigator and dialing software.