Slashdot Mirror


Apple Sued over Tiger, Injunction Sought

An anonymous reader writes "Online retailer Tiger Direct has reportedly sued Apple over the use of the Tiger name just one day before the Mac maker is scheduled to roll-out its next-generation Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' operating system, according to an article at AppleInsider. TigerDirect, which owns trademarks on the names Tiger, TigerDirect and TigerSoftware, has requested an injunction that could prevent Friday's launch of the Tiger OS. Tiger Direct is also seeking damages and legal fees. 'Apple Computer has created and launched a nationwide media blitz led by Steven Jobs, overwhelming the computer world with a sea of Tiger references,' Tiger Direct's attorneys wrote in the lawsuit." While the suit may have some merit, it is odd for them to wait until now to try and halt such a heralded product.

54 of 1,075 comments (clear)

  1. Tigger by fembots · · Score: 4, Funny

    Disney will be joining the battle soon as Tiger is misleading to Tigger.

    1. Re:Tigger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      As seen on my Crystal MythTV Ball:

      "...and in other news, Apple is being sued by computer hardware reseller TigerDirect as a result of changing the name of their newest operating system release to 'Asshole Hardware Retailer.'"

    2. Re:Tigger by milimetric · · Score: 5, Funny

      In other news, Apple turns right back around and sues the actual Tiger animal (panthera tigris). Apple is claiming that the animal misled them to name their product after something occuring in nature and did not notify them that twenty million other companies out there have used the name Tiger to suggest a powerful sleek product.

      In other shocking news, joining in TigerDirect's "Lawsuit" is a conglomeration of six hundred thousand Chinese Restaurants who also feel wronged by Apple's use of the word Tiger.

      To only add to the confusion, the actual Apple fruit (malus pumila) is suing Apple for their misleading representation that the Apple fruit is always bitten out of.

      *&#@^( you! you crazy, money hungry, insane, can't do business bastards who sue for stupid ass reasons.

    3. Re:Tigger by jd · · Score: 4, Funny

      The animal formerly known a a tiger, owing to mounting legal debts, has changed its name. It will now be known as an asparagus. It is hoped this will also confuse poachers, as hunting asparagus doesn't have the same ring to it.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    4. Re:Tigger by MasonMcD · · Score: 2, Funny

      but this won't stop those assholes at Disney.

      Luckily for the dickheads and assholes at Disney, not only are their tops made out of rubber, but their bottoms are made out of springs.

    5. Re:Tigger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      but this won't stop those assholes at Disney

      Yeah! Those bastards and their hypothetical lawsuits. They can go right to hell.

    6. Re:Tigger by vdub12 · · Score: 1, Funny

      They boncy bouncy bouncy Fun fun fun fun fun the wondrerfull thing about "tiger direct" is there the only one. Thank god there the only one! That company is souch a rip off there worce then frys. and thats realy realy realy bad. :-)

  2. pre-emptive lawsuit by visualight · · Score: 4, Funny

    Someone at TigerDirect suddenly realized that Apple would/might sue them over the name tiger and they figured they better sue first.

    --
    Samsung took back my unlocked bootloader because Google wants me to rent movies. They're both evil.
    1. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by ShaniaTwain · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is there some sort of competition going on for the much coveted title of litigious bastards?

    2. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Ballmer: <shhhh-hfffff>The farce is strong in this one. How easily our attempts at stemming the tide of competition are misiniterpreted by fools...</shhhh-hfffff>
      Gates: Mwahaha.

    3. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by b17bmbr · · Score: 2, Funny

      sun doesn't sell java. they could call it java 1.5 goatse and nobody'd care. it's still just "java".

      --
      My problem? I was perfectly gruntled, until some numbnuts came by and dissed me.
    4. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by IdleTime · · Score: 4, Funny

      What's next? Tiger Woods suing all of them?

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    5. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      The case definately adds up because TigerDirect has a financial interest in its branding of the word Tiger and Apple's infringement of the word Tiger - for a profit - is causing them a loss of noteriety and thus damages their business.

      Yeah, just like Apple to try to ride the coat-tails of the great TigerDirect brand name. I wonder how many consumers will now be misled into buying Apple software after merely following their natural curiousity about all the buzz surrounding TigerDirect.

    6. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      but the manufactures site said it was a 54,000 RPM (note, this was a long time ago)

      Well damn, even at 54K RPM I'd have bought the drive (maybe you meant 5400?)

    7. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by jmv · · Score: 2, Funny

      I personally wouldn't mind getting a 54,000 RPM drive. It will sure be *way* faster than my current 5,400 RPM drive ;-)

    8. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by soft_guy · · Score: 2, Funny

      They are worried that Apple might ruin their bad name.

      --
      Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
    9. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by justMichael · · Score: 2, Funny

      Umm, I'd care... I would need to find a new editor as one of the requirements for jEdit would be goatse.

      And quite frankly that's enough to make me use emacs, but i can't remember if OS X runs on emacs ;)

    10. Re:pre-emptive lawsuit by MikeFM · · Score: 2, Funny

      When I worked for them they used a home edition of M$ Access as the backend to their website. It was pretty funny actually.

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
  3. Good Timing by RobertTaylor · · Score: 4, Funny

    While the suit may have some merit, it is odd for them to wait until now to try and halt such a heralded product.

    Not when now is the time the threat of an injunction to stop distribution could result in a multi zillion pound pay out ;)

  4. Well, by soupdevil · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should be fine. If I remember correctly, they have at least one lawyer on staff.

  5. I hereby copyright the following: by MrAnnoyanceToYou · · Score: 2, Funny

    Lion, Bear, Barracuda, Orangutan, Giraffe, Rhinocerous, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Rattlesnake, and any other unused names of the animal kingdom hertofore unpublicised. Document following, please do not step on my rights. Thank you.

  6. Break out the magic markers by CatGrep · · Score: 5, Funny

    Jobs: "OK I need about a million volunteers: 1) Cross out the 'Tiger' on the box 2) Write 'Big Orange Cat with black stripes' "

    1. Re:Break out the magic markers by ch-chuck · · Score: 2, Funny

      better yet, "butt headed online retailer"

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    2. Re:Break out the magic markers by learn+fast · · Score: 4, Funny

      How do you know it's not black with orange stripes?

    3. Re:Break out the magic markers by hawaiian717 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Write 'Big Orange Cat with black stripes' "

      You mean they're going to rename it Mac OS X Garfield? That ought to make Paws, Inc. happy.

      --
      End of Line.
    4. Re:Break out the magic markers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hey, that's a possibility. Remember when they code-named one of their OSes as Sagan? Carl Sagan sued, and so they changed the code-name to "Butthead Astronomer."

      Maybe they should change the OS name to "Pissant Web Peddler."

  7. Yeah by pancake_lover · · Score: 5, Funny

    I heard Tiger Woods is pretty pissed too.

    --
    Homer no function beer well without.
    1. Re:Yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      I heard Tiger Woods is pretty pissed too.

      Tiger Woods sells computers. Cool.

    2. Re:Yeah by SunPin · · Score: 2, Funny

      Tiger Direct is suing Tiger Woods as well. Nobody names their child "Tiger." He is obviously using the success of Tiger Direct to increase his exposure.

      --
      Laws are for people with no friends.
  8. In Other News.. by \\ · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft has renamed their long delayed Windows release "Windows Forever". Bill Gates was quoted as saying, "If it worked for the Duke Nukem franchise, it'll work for us."

    Also, I have no idea what

  9. Wait a minute.. by Conan+D.+Librarian · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this is true, then Jaguar has standing to sue as well.

    "But your honor, these shysters have a prior history of this conduct!"

  10. it's so confusing by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've ordered several things from TigerDirect. Now, thanks to Apple, I don't know if I should enter purchases into a web page or just send it directly to the operating system.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  11. In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Williams H. Gates III Foundation has just announced a $1 million donation to the University of Texas, home of the Longhorns football team.

  12. Re:Tigger.. by ShaniaTwain · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..Would that be an operating system whose tops are made out of rubber and whose bottoms are made out of springs?

    "Its not so much a crash.. its more of a bounce, it'll be back up soon."

  13. I felt a disturbance in the force... by rbochan · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... as if millions of geeks suddenly added "0.0.0.0 tigerdirect.com" to their hosts file and a web server suddently went silent.

    --
    ...Rob
    The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
  14. Re:Tigerdirect is cheap for a reason by pjbgravely · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was getting Tiger Directs catalogues before I ever got my first PC. They seemed to support Linux well, and even had a Linux keyboard with a Tux key instead the Windows key. When I finally was in a position to buy from them, I found their web site had a huge " We recommend Microsoft Windows" sign and the Linux stuff was no where to be found. I did finally buy some stuff from them but wasn't thrilled by the 2 week shipping time.

    --
    Star Trek, there maybe hope.
  15. Re:Oh Yeah? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Candy's boyfriend? (from Red Dwarf)

  16. Re:Why did they wait so long? by petsounds · · Score: 4, Funny

    Everyone has known it was going to be called Tiger for the last YEAR. Why do they wait until release day to file a lawsuit?

    My personal tinfoil theory is that Microsoft slipped TigerDirect a generous amount of money to try to sabotage Apple's launch.

  17. Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! by C. · · Score: 2, Funny

    Make sure to press suit against Giant Tiger so they don't end up taking precious advertizing space from tigger direct.

    Oh, and sue Africa too. I heard there were some critters trying to usurp the Tiger name, too.

    --
    C.
    1. Re:Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! by minus9 · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Oh, and sue Africa too. I heard there were some critters trying to usurp the Tiger name, too."

      A tiger? In Africa?
      What?
      A TIGER? In Africa?

      Shhh!

    2. Re:Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! by DamienNightbane · · Score: 3, Funny

      Only in Kenya.

  18. Re:Specific domain? Tell that to the WWF. by uberdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think the World Wildlife Fund screwed up big time. They should have licenced the WWF acronym and website to the "wrestling" folks. They could have taken in more money in a single WWF RAW event than an entire year's fundraising.

  19. Only my favorite animal in the whole world, gosh! by mat+catastrophe · · Score: 2, Funny
    --
    sig not found
  20. Sosumi by ancyent_marinere · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh my! I think Tiger Direct has an unbeatable point with this lawsuit of theirs. Now that Tiger Direct has helped us to see the light, it is only fair that we change the name to Mac OS X Sosumi out of respect for Tiger Direct!

  21. Re:Tigerdirect is cheap for a reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Try this link:

    http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/downloa d2 .asp?Product_ID=149&dlcentric=8060&Product_Name=Au digy+2&OSName=Windows+XP

    Use at your own risk, I'm not responsible for liability, breach of contract, damage to computer, INAL, in soviet russia, ect.

  22. Real reason for the money grubbing suit... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...is that TigerDirect can't afford the ad rates for "sponsored" links at Google et al any other way than by suing SOMEBODY....

  23. Re:Some points for TigerDirect by russellh · · Score: 4, Funny

    You make some good points. It occurs to me as I read your post that someone who is confused by TigerDirect and Apple's Tiger is probably wondering why TigerDirect doesn't sell, you know, actual live Tigers... direct.

    --
    must... stay... awake...
  24. Republic of Ireland sued.. by solas · · Score: 2, Funny

    ..for numerous references to 'Celtic Tiger' economy in mid to late nineties.

  25. Re:in regards to the flamebait moderation... by FredFnord · · Score: 4, Funny
    I don't insult anyone or any single thing,
    So I take it that the title 'You Fuckers' was meant in a kind and loving sense?

    I actually got a good giggle out of this, because I think you honestly believe that titling a comment 'You fuckers' and calling everyone who disagrees with you 'brainwashed' is not flame-bait.

    But okay, I'll bite... perhaps you're complaining about the moderation because you don't really know what 'flame-bait' means. Flame-bait doesn't necessarily mean that the person who is posting is wrong... it just means that their comment was posted in just a way as to invite flamage.

    For example: if I posted that I thought that desktop Linux was really coming along, and that more people really ought to consider it as an alternative to Windows, I wouldn't be modded down as flamebait. If I posted that desktop Linux still had too many usability problems and that Windows was still better for end users, I wouldn't either. If I posted that I thought anyone who used Windows when Linux was available was a cretin who shouldn't be allowed to breed, I would almost certainly be modded down as flamebait (unless I said it in a fucking hilarious way), and the same goes for saying the same thing about people using desktop Linux.

    So, in case you still can't see what you did, a helpful hint: calling people 'fuckers' because they believe different things than you, even if what they believe is so obviously wrong that you just can't imagine anyone actually believing it and it makes you nauseous to even consider the idea that anyone could believe it... well, that invites flames. And thus is flame-bait.

    Dickhead.

    -fred

    PS: By the way, you're also wrong.
    --
    Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
  26. free sw naming by Kynde · · Score: 2, Funny


    Apple should've done what the free software people have done for years, i.e. name the releases with names even the authors have no fecking idea what they mean.

    --
    1 Earth is warming, 2 It's us, 3 it's royally bad, 4 we need to take action NOW
  27. Irony... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah, the irony.

    "Asparagus" is what we now (mainly since the end of World War II) call "sparrow grass": apparently, sparrow grass just wasn't as trendy a name, so it got dropped.

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  28. Re:Tigger.. by GraemeDonaldson · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes and we all know how the BSD and KHTML hate it when other people use their code. Oh, wait.

    --
    I think, therefore I am. I think?
  29. Re:Tigger.. by Ruphuz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Count me in! --- Tiger Woods.

    --
    My other post is a First.
  30. Re:So I can start AppleSoftware then? by szelus · · Score: 2, Funny

    OK then kid, you find a name less than 15 letters that hasn't been used in some way - any way, according to your logic - with computers. See how ridiculous that gets?

    OK. Then asparagus! I believe it hasn't been used with computers yet!
    Is anybody brave enough to setup a new "Asparagus Computer" brand or Asparagus OS?