Microsoft and its Skype phone service on Tuesday lost a legal battle against Rupert Murdoch's television business Sky in a EU court, in a case related to naming rights. Judges at the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg upheld a complaint that the British broadcaster lodged a decade ago with the EU trademark authority in which it said the Skype name and logo risked being confused by consumers because they sounded and looked too similar to "Sky".

Microsoft may appeal. The court ruling upheld decisions by the trademark office in 2012 and 2013 which have prevented the Skype name being registered but have not blocked its use by the business.