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Apple Sues Over iGasm Ads

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the too-hot-to-rock dept.

funkeymonkeyman writes "Apple is less than pleased with an interesting new peripheral for the iPod which promises to 'take your appreciation of music to a whole new level.' Legal action has been taken against Ann Summers, the manufacturers of the new device, specifically for the similarity of the iGasm advertisements to the iconic iPod silhouette ads. The CEO of the adult retail chain replied to the threat cheerily, 'Perhaps I can send them an iGasm to put a smile back on their faces.'"

15 of 342 comments (clear)

  1. I don't know about you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But iCame.

    1. Re:I don't know about you by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 5, Informative

      How about...i'llgetfiredprobablytomorrowforfollowingaN SFWlinkfarkyouneal

      --
      Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
    2. Re:I don't know about you by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This isn't Fark. Either man up and tell your boss about something funny you saw so that he hears about it first from you, or take some responsibility for yourself and don't click links in a story about a sex toy.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  2. Let me correct that headline for you. by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Headline should read:

    Apple's usual litigation-trigger-happy attitude has netted an incalculable amount of free publicity to Anne Summers.

    I can't really see how Apple can claim some sort of copyright over silhouettes. I mean - the original iPod adds seemed very.... reminiscent of the James Bond opening credits sequences from the 70s.

    Perhaps Apple is jealous that the Anne Summers' logo also contains an Apple.

    --
    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
    1. Re:Let me correct that headline for you. by Xiroth · · Score: 5, Insightful

      To be honest, I seriously doubt they actually care - popular peripherals can only increase the demand for their products. All they're doing is ensuring that there's a clear gap between them so that if some think-of-the-children types kick up a fuss then they can say 'We have nothing to do with them - look, we even tried to shut them down via lawsuit.'

      This kind of publicity helps both parties, and I say more power to them if the media is running with it.

    2. Re:Let me correct that headline for you. by fractoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can't really see how Apple can claim some sort of copyright over silhouettes. I mean - the original iPod adds seemed very.... reminiscent of the James Bond opening credits sequences from the 70s. Isn't that Apple's approach to all of their 'revolutionary' stylistic stuff? "We stole it first. You can't have it!"
      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  3. Only suing vibrators? by adona1 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Personally, I'm surprised they haven't started suing the iGoatse...which almost makes me wish I had an iPod ;)

    --
    Between the falling angel and the rising ape
  4. Re:Anybody here try it? by martinX · · Score: 5, Funny

    I tried it. It hurt my bum.

    Hang on, this is for chicks to use? Man, was I duped...

    --
    When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
  5. Re:iGasm beat by X0563511 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please, don't EVER make a comment combining Hillary Clinton and a sex toy. EVER. The mind is an eye one cannot gouge out.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  6. iFuck by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gals, go natural and organic and let me introduce (in) to you my iFuck device. Its free and requires no batteries.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  7. Ann Summers by Animats · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you haven't spent much time in the UK, you may not realize that Ann Summers is a major retail chain, with hundreds of sex shops. It's like Victoria's Secret in the US, but harder-core.

  8. Re:Let me correct the headline for you... by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    specifically designed to cause confusion in the markeplace

    Confusion?

    If you can't tell the difference between a sex toy & a portable music player, then.... well, let's just say I don't want to borrow your iPod.

    --
    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
  9. AAaaaagggh! by durin · · Score: 5, Funny


    Damn porn filter at work.

    --
    Why, yes! I AM new here.
  10. TM details FWIW by chub_mackerel · · Score: 5, Informative

    Some clarity on TM, at least in US...

    No, you can't trademark a style.

    You can trademark almost anything that creates a connection in a consumer's mind between a product/service and its origin. Historically this has included logos, words, sounds (Harley Davidson's engine noise), images, even colors (Corningware's "pink" insulation), shapes of products (Weber Grill), type of decoration in a restaurant, called "trade dress" (Taco Cabana).

    If whenever you see commercials of a certain "style" and you think "Apple/iPod", then the style is likely trademark material. If another company's using the same style to sell a similar/related product (as opposed to engaging in satire or public comment which is more protected) then I'd put my money on the trademark holder.

    ...You also have to apply for a trademark(unlike copyright where it's automatically a given)...

    Wrong again, at least in the US. Most trademark rights come from using the trademark, not from applying for it. The Trademark office register the mark for you, which gives you some considerable procedural advantages (hence there is a process sort of like patent application that you need to go through), but there's no requirement to register your mark in order to have a trademark. All of which is probably beside the point in this instance, since I bet Apple registered something related to whatever they're suing over.

  11. Re:No bad publicity by rtyall · · Score: 5, Funny

    See "Wife", Read "self".
    See "just to see it in action", read "to replace the electric toothbrush".
    Sorry, saw the joke and took it.