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?"

revamped movie

[yagu]

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.

Good for them! Let's take it to the next step....

[vishbar]

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.

Re:Yeah...

[Anonymous Coward]

...Escape Pod?

Re:I Did Some Research

[HTH NE1]

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?"

Re:revamped movie

[captain_dope_pants]

In further news biologists have been told to find a new collective name for a load of whales.
Answers on a po(stcar)d =P

Their next move

[The_Pariah]

...is to copright i*

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.

Next up... Apple sues God...

[GoatMonkey2112]

...for putting peas in a pod.

I know an IP lawyer who needs work.

[Anonymous Coward]

Could someone name their music player "McPod" please?

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!

Re:I Did Some Research

[Anonymous Coward]

"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.

Re:Good for them! Let's take it to the next step..

[NOCjock]

iI iThink iThat's iThe iSilliest iThing iI've iEver iHeard...

Trade Mark i**

[calcutta001]

Just wait till they trademark "i" . Anything that starts with 'i' will be claimed as TM infringement :-/ iPod, iMac, iSync, iGO, iGive,iRobot ???

Re:Yeah...

[edmicman]

so the point is moot

I accept your apology.

Re:Yeah...

[Anonymous Coward]

CaptainObvious wrote:
>The US is not the whole world.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Re:In a Different Community, It Was The Standard

[revlayle]

Yep, I certainly use common word "pod" in everyday speech.

example usage I use all the time: "My family was hatched from pods."

;)

Re:Yeah...

[kevinadi]

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.

Re:In a Different Community, It Was The Standard

[Anonymous Coward]

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

This just in from Big Blue and the crunchy one...

[geobeck]

Two major computer companies announced a lawsuit today against toilet manufacturer iBM...

Apple Pushes World's First Interspecial Lawsuit

[Colz Grigor]

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".

Re:revamped movie

[Anonymous Coward]

Or this:

SECOND OFFICER: Lord Vader, the battlestation plans are not aboard this ship! And no transmissions were made. An escape pod(tm) was jettisoned during the fighting, but no life forms were aboard.

DARTH VADER: She must have hidden the plans in the escape pod(tm). Send a detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally, Commander. There'll be no one to stop us this time.

That's just the subtitles! The same person that does the quick 'blablabla some conditions apply. see in store for details' at the end of the commercials will do a quick voice-over "Pod is a registred trademark of Apple Computer, Inc."

Re:Yeah...

[john83]

Well, I suppose you don't call 'em photoshopped pics either...

Nah, I call them chazzwozzers.

Re:Sweet Fancy Moses

[Anonymous Coward]

If you spend a little more on law school would paragraphs be part of the curriculum?

Pod people

[Animats]

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

iZune

[tgv]

I hereby claim the name "iZune"!