vBulletin infringing on 'Buddy List' trademark?

[Dean C]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_List

I know this term is used by a lot of web applications, but some of you may remember an old instant messenger client called PowWow. I used to use this chat program all the time and it was shut down for its use of AOLs trademark:

In the late 1990s AOL sued Tribal Voice for use of the phrase 'buddy list' and made repeated efforts to block interoperability between their instant messaging client and Tribal Voice's, as well as those of other companies.

Could vBulletin, Drupal and hundreds of other web applications face the same problem?

[Jose Amaral Rego]

Would not the application need to be the same? I would think it would need to be a 'Instant Messenger' script before they can legally go after a company.

[Gladius]

It's hardly a problem to change it to Bud List or Friend List or whatever else if the need arises. Like when Infopop found out that Jelsoft also named its BB codes UBB codes. It was changed rather fast.

[devilsown]

As they start to have more money problems i would not be suprized if they squeezed someone for a cash infusion.