The word netbook is a generic term that many consumers and computer makers have been using since 2007 to describe the hoards of small, cheap notebooks on the market. Intel uses the term in its advertising as do many other manufacturers like Dell. I mentioned a few weeks back that Psion had been successful in proving to Google that it owned the trademark on the term netbook.

Dell is standing up for its right to use the term netbook along with everyone else with a filing that claims that Psion’s trademark is no good. According to Dell, the trademark is no good for three reasons. Dell says that Psion has abandoned the trademark and does not intend to resume bona fide trade using the mark.

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard of a netbook already. Netbooks are one of the sole bright spots in the computer industry amid the current poor global economy. The netbook market is posting significant growth as shipments of other more expensive notebooks and desktops are slumping.

Psion has been saying for over a year that computer markers shouldn’t be using the term “netbook” to generically describe the small, low cost systems we know and love today. The reason is that Psion apparently owns the trademark for the word “netbook” and has a machine that goes by that name.