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Apple Warns Companies About 'Pod' Naming
eldavojohn writes "In what may be a case of trademark trolling, Apple has issued warnings to makers of other electronic devices containing the word 'pod.' Two companies have been asked to remove the word from their products. Why might this be a mean action by Apple? These two companies don't manufacture MP3 players as one would think would cause confusion. From the article:
Profit Pod is a device that compiles data from vending machines, while TightPod manufactures slip-on covers designed to protect electronic products such as laptops and MP3 players.Back in the day, if someone was calling an electronic device a 'pod,' I would have thought they were talking about Line 6's Guitar and Bass pods (which I believe have been around for a while). How come they aren't warning Apple about their iPod naming?"
Dave. Open the pod bay doors, Hal.
Hal. I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Dave. What's the problem?
Hal. Apple discovered my ties to IBM and issued a cease and desist order. You are no longer allowed to open the pod bay door.
They've gone half-way, but now it's time to make SURE that the iPod's name will never be infringed upon. The next logical step is to not allow others to use any name beginning with the letter "i", ESPECIALLY a lower-case "i". Good for Apple, glad to see they're supporting free speech! Because I know that if I see a piece of technology with the word "pod" in it, it immediately becomes indistiguishable from an MP3 player.
Ride the skies
...Escape Pod?
I only wonder what logic Apple is using to sue these companies using the term Pods.
"You didn't sue us to defend your trademark against our use, so you've already lost it; now we're suing you to defend our trademark against your use"?
"Or maybe we can Beatle out a deal?"
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
Let them kill the whole third party accessory market. And anything evenly remoted related to Apple products. They're most likely not making money of these items.
Future ruler of a small Asian-Pacific island
...for putting peas in a pod.
He's behind on his 'Benz payments and could use the work defending someone. "McPod" should bring in McDonals and Apple into a lawsuit.
Thank you!
"Or maybe we can Beatle out a deal?"
All we are saying is give peas a chance.
(They came in pods first.)
Ho ho ho, Green Giant.
iI iThink iThat's iThe iSilliest iThing iI've iEver iHeard...
Just wait till they trademark "i" . Anything that starts with 'i' will be claimed as TM infringement :-/ iPod, iMac, iSync, iGO, iGive,iRobot ???
CaptainObvious wrote:
>The US is not the whole world.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Yep, I certainly use common word "pod" in everyday speech.
;)
example usage I use all the time: "My family was hatched from pods."
Apple would be in trouble if it ever sells the next-gen iPod as iPodXT.
Next up would probably be iPodXTLive for DJs. Bring it on.
Actually Apple does not want you to use PEAR, PEACH, APRICOT, or any other round shaped fruit as the name for your product because they already thought of fruits. In fact I think they are a bunch of fruits... :D
Two major computer companies announced a lawsuit today against toilet manufacturer iBM...
Find environmentally and socially responsible products on http://buy-right.net
Cupertino, CA -- In an unusual move, Apple Computer, Inc., makers of the ubiquitous iPod, has filed civil litigation against an orca. The company has taken advantage of a loophole in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) which allows organizations to sue members of other species in order to dispute alleged trademark abuses. "At issue in this case is an infringement on the use of the word 'Pod'," said a spokesperson for Apple. These killer whales have taken to referring to themselves as a "Pod", and we believe that their doing so dilutes the value of the word." When asked about the lawsuit, Ruffles, an Orca who claims to be a leader of "J-Pod", only replied "Grrrrrrrrrhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu".
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
If you spend a little more on law school would paragraphs be part of the curriculum?
Just keep referring to those dweebs with wires hanging out of their ears as "pod people". Laugh at them behind their back. They can't hear you. They can't even hear the bus that's about to run them over. Don't they look stupid? Too cool for school, too dumb for the real world.
Live by the hype, die by the hype
I hereby claim the name "iZune"!