It is being reported by a number of sources that Dell is trying to trademark "cloud computing".  Yes, you heard me right! 

The trademark application (serial number 77139082) was first found on the Cloud Computing Group on Google Groups by Sam Johnston.

The Industry Standard reports:

Dell is not the only company to go after this term. The first trademark application was made in 1998 under serial number 75291765 by NetCentric Corporation, a company that used to provide "carrier-class Internet fax technology." The application was killed less than a year later. Dell's application is dated March 23, 2007, well after the first mention I was able to find of the term, which appeared as "cloud" and "cloud network" in the New York Times in 2001.

...

It was published for opposition April 15 of this year, and the definition submitted in the trademark application makes it clear that Dell is covering all potential use of the term, and not restricting it to a cloud computing platform of its own specific design:

IC 040. US 100 103 106. G & S: Custom manufacture of computer hardware for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others

IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Design of computer hardware for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others; customization of computer hardware for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others; design and development of networks for use in data centers and mega-scale computing environments for others; Consulting services for data centers and mega-scale computing environments in the fields of design, selection, implementation, customization and use of computer hardware and software systems for others; Consulting services for data centers and mega-scale computing environments in the fields of design, selection, implementation, customization and use of computer hardware and software systems for others

CNET is reporting that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has reversed course on its earlier move to grant Dell trademark rights to the term "cloud computing."  It said that back on July 8, Dell received notice that it could have the trademark, but that the USPTO has now withdrawn that offer. 

As well it should, the term cloud computing has been used for quite some time in a generic sense.  How is that possible?

If you don't hear from me in the next few days, I could be busy trying to get trademarks for a number of virtualization terms.  :)

Thanks to Virtualization.com for turning me on to this.