This means that we could be forced to rebrand Nxt at some stage in the future, if someone wishes to assert a prior claim on the trademark Nxt.
The most effective tool a cryptocurrency has against legal threats is ignoring them. Also there are others, such as Bitcoin, which have more resources and money for interacting with the legal system. I would also oppose the idea that a cryptocurrency is in the same category with any other pre-crypto product it could be mixed up with, it's very different.
It seems that other changes, for example the API, didn't work so well. A name change would cause unnecessary confusion. Also NXT is one of the few three letter combinations that almost makes up a real word.
We do NOT live in a bubble.
Like it or not, if we get a cease and desist, this doesn't only affect us.
It affects ANY company using Nxt, and they will also be forbidden to use our name/brand.
Given that we WANT adoption, that leaves us in a terrible place, because we'd be dragging any partner into problems. They will not be allowed to use Nxt brand anywhere, effectively hiding us from view.
Any interaction with the Nxt name will be impossible. The Nxt Foundation would need to cease operations under the name.
Sorry to be the harbinger of doom here, but that's what can (and once we grow WILL) happen.
We are at a good juncture to do this if we want. The 2.0 is probably the only point in time when we could do this AND reap PR brownie points due to generating publicity for it.
Nxt is a GOOD name, and guess what: that's why over 100 companies already have prior rights. There's not even a chance of going to court over this, as it will be dismissed as a frivolous case. Case law is very clear on this: whomever registered first, gets the name. We were far from the first.
As to names with "nxt" in it: won't wash, it's possibility of confusion that counts, so any name would almost automatically fall under the same law due to similarity.