Apple goes after Podium

Teezer

No, not THAT Podium. This one:

Apple to Pivotal: Take the 'pod' out of Podium

Apple has issued a cease and desist letter to Pivotal, creators of Podium, a hands-free iPhone stand - namely over the use of the word "Pod" in Podium.

An excerpt from the cease and desist letter provided to TUAW states that "The term POD has also been adopted and used extensively in the marketplace by consumers as an abbreviation to refer to Apple's IPOD player. The IPOD and POD marks indicate to consumers that a broad range of products, including portable electronic devices, computer software, and related goods and services bearing those marks and marks similar thereto originate from or are sponsored or endorsed by Apple."

So watch out "Podium," you may be next...

Gaieus

This is bullsh***t (I mean it may be true...)
These companies should be fined for millions of dollars for wasting tax payers' money on cases like this.

Come on, "POD" menas "foot" (well, comes from the singular POUS). How about tripod then? How could someone sue somebody for a foot? And also, from now on, every word that bears the same three letter (that are not even trademarked) will be prohibited? Podium doesn't even have the same origin.

Ecuadorian

I used to be quite a frequent poster in the AVS Forum, and we always found amusing how "Monster Cable", the maker of some of the most overpriced cables on earth, keeps sending Cease & Desist letters to everyone who uses the word "Monster" in company names.

tbd

phew, so they are not after me

Jackson

This is hilarious. I suppose Steve Jobs is also planning to sue any software developers who use the term "application" to describe their products.

Just another case of Apple seeing someone else's brandname and thinking "Damn, why didn't we think of that first? Lawyers, go get 'em!"

jeff hammond

@jackson said:

This is hilarious. I suppose Steve Jobs is also planning to sue any software developers who use the term "application" to describe their products.

Just another case of Apple seeing someone else's brandname and thinking "Damn, why didn't we think of that first? Lawyers, go get 'em!"

well, i think it's mainly to do with them ripping off the design and not so much the name.. it's probably easier for them to battle about the name though so apple lawyers chose that route..

that said, i do think this is pretty ridiculous

Alan Fraser

They've got some nerve; in the light of the 30 year dispute between themselves and Apple Records over both name and logo.

Mike Lucey

..... 'No such thing as bad publicity'

NewOne

Well... pay attention about how you eat apples ... http://masterview.ikonosnewmedia.com/images/bitten_apple_id13542_size400.jpg
Or what you do with them:

Chris Fullmer

I know Apple is not the only company with these issues, but it does remind me just how much I dislike them.

Chris

david_h

I see two things happening here. . . .Apple goes after my Church because we SPEAK at Podiums. They go after anybody who has ever Eaten an apple. Maybe Washington Fruit Growers should go after them for using the Term "Apple' but then God sues THEM because He INVENTED Apples. . .it's all so litigious. To paraphrase Andy Warhol. . .Everybody will be eventually sued for 15 millions.

solo

But it would be great to see Apple going after Mcdonalds over the term 'Mac'.

Ecuadorian

And Disney going after McDonald's... It sounds like a combination of Donald and McDuck.

EDIT: It seems that in Russia somebody had the same idea:
http://englishrussia.com/?p=1661

david_h

Escept THe Mac as in Big Mac came around long before the Steve Jobs we know and love. . .They should sue HIM!!!

Jackson

.... and half the polulation of Scotland bringing a class action against Apple for plagiarising the first part of their surnames.

p.s. I had a real Ronald McDonald for a boss for a few months. He was born well before the very first McDonalds opened, so maybe he's got a case against them?

david_h

Did he have red hair and size 47 feet and a propensity for wearing yellow Jump suits?

Jackson

No, but he did scare children.

Ross Macintosh

As a 'Macintosh' this thread has frightened me. Me and my shotgun will be on the lookout for anyone who might try to serve me papers! I'll make applesauce out of them before they'll take away my name.

Regards, iMac

pmiller

Apple's fight with the Beatles (and others) is particularly amusing since that had to name their computer after a raincoat (invented by Charles Macintosh) rather then the intended red apple (McIntosh) -- no doubt because of legal conflicts with McIntosh Laboratories, manufacturers of very expensive audio equipment....

Ecuadorian

I can't believe a surname can be trademarked.