Gates accused of 'name theft'

Bill Gates has been thrust into a naming row after he announced a European venture called EuroScience only to be told a few hours later that a body using that name already exists.

The Euroscience Association was founded in 1997 and represents researchers at all levels of academic scale as well as industry bodies working in scientific fields. It boasts 2,100 individual members and 31 institutional members.

However, speaking in Prague last week as part of his European tour, Bill Gates announced the foundation of EuroScience – a partnership organisation intended to unite Microsoft with some of Europe's finest researchers.

It's an announcement which didn't find favour with Jean Patrick Connerade, president of the original Euroscience, who appeared more than willing to take a cheap shot at the Microsoft boss.

"Mr Gates does not approve of software piracy, so I am sure he does not intend to steal our name," said Connerade.

Addressing the confusion between the names, Connerade said: "If Mr Gates wants to help us by injecting millions of dollars into Euroscience, then that is wonderful but I am surprised as the elected president of Euroscience, I was not consulted."

He also believes Gates is guilty of having not done his homework, adding there is little excuse for the world's richest man not knowing about Euroscience.

"Euroscience is a registered Association of scientists who give up time voluntarily in support of European science. We have members in forty European countries and, with the help of sponsors, we organise a pan-European Forum on all the sciences, to which thousands of people come. 350 journalists attended the last ESOF in Stockholm. It was widely featured in the international press, even making the front page of the Financial Times. Officers of the American Association for the Advancement of Science were invited, so American scientists also know about us," he said.

Microsoft is reported to be in talks with Euroscience to discuss how the issue can be resolved.