iLounge

1

After Apple’s abuse of many companies using the word “pod,” this is just desserts.  That pathetic “well that is a phone and this is a CELL phone” is ridiculous.  Apple would never accept that as an excuse from someone they were suing.

Posted by stark23x on January 10, 2007 at 8:46 PM (PDT)

2

There is a difference in Voip and a cell phone, mostly technological as they do similar communications. Yes, I know it’s obvious, but the technical differences may get Apple off the hook.

Posted by fireball74 on January 10, 2007 at 10:38 PM (PDT)

3

I wonder if apple would feel the same way if someone were to market some non-music related product under the name of ipod.

Posted by sykocus on January 10, 2007 at 11:18 PM (PDT)

4

As much as I love Apple and its products…it is bs what they are claiming. Anyway, I hope that they don’t keep the name in hopes that they come up with something better. Honestly, I got tired of the name usage prior to its announcement. C’mon Apple you pulled off a great product…bring forward a great name for it.

Posted by Conrado González on January 10, 2007 at 11:25 PM (PDT)

5

Seeing as the demo showed that the iPhone (apple’s) will run dashboard widgets, that there is a Skype widget available, and it has built in 802.11x, it means that it has a built in feature that will go up directly against the Linksys (Cisco) VoIP phone.  Very sloppy on Apple’s part.

Posted by Dan on January 11, 2007 at 1:21 AM (PDT)

6

Meh, Cisco has allowed the trademark to be diluted already (see the Linksys iPhone, among others). So, they really don’t have a case. It’s too late for them to whine about it now.

Posted by Dalek666 on January 11, 2007 at 1:23 AM (PDT)

7

cisco owns linksys, silly

Posted by sighte on January 11, 2007 at 2:11 AM (PDT)

8

1 - Everyone’s been expecting an iPhone from apple for years.
2 - Linksys has owned the iPhone trademark for years.
3 - Most people obviously didn’t know this; Apple probably did.
4 - Apple ANNOUNCE iPhone as expected. Fanboys faint.
5 - Apple announce AppleTV and rebrand corporation
6 - Cisco Sue. Become ‘Bad guys’
7 - Apple RELEASE device as ApplePhone, strengthen branding, please everyone. Except Cisco…
8 - Profit!

Posted by Phil B on January 11, 2007 at 2:51 AM (PDT)

9

Let’s hope that Sony introduces an internet tablet named iPod and Apple files suit against Sony for using their trademark and Sony presents a counter-argument that the Sony iPod is just an internet tablet for use in home or public WLANs and not a music player and then Apple loses out to Sony in the suit based on the counter-argument presented by Sony.

Posted by Mythwolf in Pakistan on January 11, 2007 at 4:21 AM (PDT)

10

Let’s hope that companies concentrate on producing products people want rather than suing each other all the time!

Posted by Phil B on January 11, 2007 at 5:08 AM (PDT)

11

Oh Puh-LEEEEZ, if I even so much sold fruit on a street corner and put up a sign saying “Apples”, Jobs’ cronies would have my house, car, kids, and their kids’ kids digging in South African coal mines for the rest of their miserable lives.
Apple knew what it was doing when they entered into negotiations years back for use of the term iphone.  Don’t cry now because Cisco isn’t making this convenient for them!

Posted by dirk on January 11, 2007 at 6:46 AM (PDT)

12

Trademarks are a really big deal. The makers of the Frisbee very seriously goard the use of that term to keep it from becoming a common use term. Look at what happened to the term ‘aspirin’ in the US (ruled a s common use name, so no trademark) and in Canada (trademarked name). Xerox has the same issue.

Try to open a “Mc” restauraunt anywhere in the US and see what happens.

Apple…very sloppy, and it looks bad since they sue anyone who even looks at the “i” or “pod” name.

Posted by jimlat on January 11, 2007 at 6:47 AM (PDT)

13

Cisco suing Apple was inevitable after Apple decided to use the term iPhone. Apple deserves to get sued over the trademark, they had to have known that Cisco has owned the trademark rights to “iPhone” for years. so announcing an iPhone when you dont even own the trademark is asking for trouble.

Posted by Joe on January 11, 2007 at 9:15 AM (PDT)

14

Apple will lose this case as soon as it goes in court. Karma is quite a b**ch, eh mr. Jobs?

Posted by jon owls on January 11, 2007 at 9:19 AM (PDT)

15

Apple will most definitely lose this one—as they should from every legal aspect.

Sad, but the Apple I once knew and loved, since 1984, has become more and more like the large corporations I no longer care for. Yes, there good corporations and bad corporations; Apple is treading in the gray area, but leaning to the dark side these days.

Posted by FahrenheiPod 451 on January 11, 2007 at 9:21 AM (PDT)

16

Wow!  So many Trademark law experts in one place!

Posted by The Raven on January 11, 2007 at 10:17 AM (PDT)

17

Raven, lighten up.  People are just sounding off…..no one claims to be a legal expert here.  Why else would they be trolling these boards instead of spending time at their real job (“Would you like those french fries supersized, sir?”)

Posted by dirk on January 11, 2007 at 11:09 AM (PDT)

18

WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW?

Posted by TLo on January 11, 2007 at 12:10 PM (PDT)

19

FryPod anyone?

Posted by Lstrike on January 12, 2007 at 3:44 AM (PDT)

20

I’m inventing a new holder for coffee pods called PodDaddy.  Jobs please sue me so I can feel abused for my failure to please you.

No. I’m not a former Apple employee and I’ve enjoyed their products since Steve’s return.  I just think Jobs could stand to lose a battle or five.

Posted by oddjobs on January 12, 2007 at 6:48 AM (PDT)