GIANT Microsoft Corp will not name its next operating system "Windows Fiji", the company said.
Fairfax media reported the word "Fiji" was just an internal Microsot code word and would not be used for external marketing.
The development came after interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said he wrote to Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
In his letter, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the interim Government asserted its absolute ownership over the use of word "Fiji" and reserved all its rights under relevant laws to protect and defend the use of the word.
"This letter, therefore serves to put Microsoft on notice that the Government unreservedly objects to the use of the word Fiji in connection with Microsoft Corporation's operating system or any of its products," the Attorney-General said in his letter.
Fairfax media reported Windows Client Business Group manager Ben Green as saying that in Microsoft "Fiji" was an internal working code name for the Windows Media Centre TV software package.
"(It) is not intended to be used in an external marketing context," he said. "The product is designed to add new television standards support, enhance the user interface and set up experience, and add interactive TV features to Windows Media Centre."
In marketing circles it is common practice for projects in development to be given names of no possible relationship to the public product name, Fair Fax reported.
"Like a lot of companies, we use various internal project names (in much the same way many New Zealand companies name meeting rooms or projects after islands in the Hauraki Gulf," Mr Green said.
"In this case, I understand it reflects the project team's affection for Fiji as a great country to visit."
