Filed under: Apple Corporate
Tragically timed trademark tiff over Tiger
Every now and then a slow news day has a happy ending. Take today for example. I was just geting ready to post something lame(er than usual) when all of a sudden the news of a big fat law suit lands in my inbox. Not just any big fat lawsuit - but a big fat lawsuit filed by Tiger Direct, the computer reseller most IT departments love to hate, over Apple's use of the name Tiger.Let's see... Apple's been referring to Mac OS X 10.4 as Tiger for like a year now? And Tiger is officially released tomorrow. I guess TigerDirect just
According to Bloomberg, the suit alleges Apple Computer engaged in trademark infringement and unfair trade practices in connection with the "Tiger" marketing campaign. Tiger Direct is seeking a temporary restraining order and an injunction that could prevent Tiger from actually going on sale tomorrow, "to stop further damage to Tiger Direct's well-known Tiger brand."
"Apple Computer has created and launched a nationwide media blitz led by Steven Jobs, overwhelming the computer world with a sea of Tiger references."
Yes he did. And nobody does it better. This cat fight is either going to be quick and painless or drawn out and dirty. I can't wait to see which way it goes! Someone's eyes are going to get scratched out either way.
Just for fun, I want you to go immediately to tigerdirect.com right now and type the word apple into the search box in the upper left corner, as I just did. If the results page (for HP iPods) isn't the best way to end a slow news day, I don't know what is.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brock Batsell said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
Bah! I'm not sure if my cache was to blame, but I checked the site, saw this story wasn't published, and submitted a news tip. When I reloaded the page, you had a nice post about it. Sorry about the clutter!
With that said, I've already sent an email to Tiger Direct letting them know that they won't receive any more of my business (they had in the past) and I will probably call in and ask to speak to a manager as well.
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Shane said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
I just did a search at the uspto.gov web site, and Tiger Direct doesn't have a word trademark on the word Tiger at all. All of their owned trademarks are for "Tigerdirect" always listed as one word. Apple on the other hand has a registered trademark for "Tiger" and "Mac OS X Tiger". I don't think the crappy mail-order seller has a striped leg to stand on.
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Jonathan Horak said 6:07PM on 9-07-2005
"If the results page (for HP iPods) isn't the best way to end a slow news day, I don't know what is."
Whoa. The url [1] you're redirected to doesn't even include the search term "apple" in it.
1. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=hp+ipod
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Kobla Fiagbedzi said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
Tigerdirect is just using a trademark lawsuit as a way of getting free publicity and site visits from the press and unsuspecting public for free. They are just feeding off the attention Apple is getting with the release of OS X 10.4 - Tiger. Yes, I said it, TIGER TIGER TIGER TIGER TIGER TIGER TIGER. Please sue me too.
Please do not succumb to this daft and sleazy attempt at getting visitors to their site.
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Steve M said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
They are just trying to ride the coatails for some free publicity. They trademarked Tigerdirect (one word) because the word Tiger is a common word, and by law cannot be trademarked. If Apple got a trademark on the word Tiger, it will probably not stand up in any real court battle.
TigerDirect won't take this to court, they would spend a bunch of money and get laughed out.
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internet wonder said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
Tigerdirect is a business like any other business they are protecting there name, the lawsuite timing is iffy but one thing is for sure if Intel came out with the Pentium Athlon processor 5 I guarentee AMD and Intel would get into it... Tiger direct Holds the rights to "Tiger" "Tigerdirect" and "Tigersoftware".
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Dan said 8:03AM on 7-19-2005
Go to tigerdirect and send a comment to them that you don't appreciate sleazy tactics like this and will not buy from them, and encourage friends and family not to buy from them as well. That should shut the cynical jerks up.
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Laurie said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
Jonathan - that was my point :) The actual URL it processes is a redirect:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/include/hitbox_search_redirect.asp?redirect_string=keywords%20[apple]&redirect_url=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=hp+ipod
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Adam said 9:37PM on 12-04-2005
I noticed on the FedEx tracker for my copy of Tiger that the package is being held at the Memphis sorting facility since 1:00 this afternoon.
Surely this isn't related, is it?
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Jeff Kirk said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
All FedEx package filter through Memphis Tenn as far as I know. That's major hub for FedEx. I wouldn't worry about it.
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Gerald Buckley said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
Wonder if they're also suing Sun for the Tiger version of Java. What a bunch of hooey! I hope the legal system punishes them for a frivolous lawsuit!
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Scott Williams said 4:17PM on 6-16-2005
I don't think this is mistimed at all, tigerdirect knows exactly what they are doing. By trying to get an injunction a day before 10.4 ships, they'll get the most press. I posted this over on engadget too:
It's not about money (directly). I'd bet that Tiger Direct knows they don't have a case, and there is no way they'll get that injunction. This is just to some free press. Looks like its working.
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Jonathan Horak said 6:07PM on 9-07-2005
"Jonathan - that was my point :) The actual URL it processes is a redirect..."
Yeah, knew that's what you meant. Was just echoing (with more detail) out of shock — hence the "whoa". :)
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Bob Comer said 5:25AM on 12-28-2005
I pity anyone who buys anything from TigerDirect. WOW, are those people a bunch of rip-off artists. I had the deep misfortune to buy a computer system from them some years ago, and, like so many others, I had nothing but trouble. The monitor they sent wouldn't work at all. What a hassle trying to get it replaced! Just try calling those clowns and see how many hours they will keep you on the phone (and mostly on hold.) The CPU they sent me soon crapped-out (power supply died!) and then---LOOK OUT---more hours on the phone, tranferred to 10 different clods who all say the same thing, "We'll take care of that, but you'll have to talk to Mr. Phony Baloney--hold while I transfer you." Then, you are put on hold for another hour! It's no wonder there are so many nasty comments from people all over the country who got a royal screwing from this pathetic and rotten rip-off company. My advice: go to a local store like BestBuy (better yet, Staples--I've had nothing but good buying experiences there) and save yourself a truckload of aggravation!
Meanwhile, TD can just change their name to SUD --Screw-U-Direct!
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