You may
remember Apple legal telling the folks who made iPodderX to change their application's name
(specifically, to remove the word "iPod") and the resulting contest that produced the new moniker,
"Transistr." Well, Apple is at it again.They've told the folks at Splasm Software to rename Podner, which is an application that converts your video files for iPod use quickly and easily (we took a look at Podner last October). They're currently holding a contest to find a new name, and the winner will be rewarded with a free registration code (2nd, 3rd and 4th place will get a free code, too). Good luck!
[Via Macworld]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-22-2006 @ 7:25AM
ambimb said...
I'm all for allowing Apple to defend its intellectual property, and its issue with "ipodder" I can understand, but this seems a step too far. How does "podner" infringe in any way on Apple's property? Does Apple now control anything with the word "pod" in it?
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2-22-2006 @ 7:51AM
Edsel said...
Apple gets away with it until someone has the inclination, balls & $$ to challenge it. Clearly "Pod" is acceptable use otherwise Merriam Webster would be told to drop "Pod" from its dictionary. This type of trade mark protection scam is typically farmed out to law firms specializing in this area and they will generate all types of billable activity to make it look like they're protecting their client's (Apple) interests.
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2-22-2006 @ 8:03AM
John P. said...
Odd. I can understand wanting "iPod" out of the name of the first app - but Pod????? Should the director who created "Attack of the Pod People" sue Apple???? Weird.
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2-22-2006 @ 8:16AM
south said...
Perhaps Apple would like to sue anyone using the word 'podcast' too? Or would that ruin a good free marketing opportunity? I'm sure Creative would gladly step into the breach to promote their, um, Zencasts...
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2-22-2006 @ 9:22AM
Ken R said...
I don't see a problem, it certainly helps with software sales / downloads, because it makes it obvious that the product has to do with iPodding.
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2-22-2006 @ 9:25AM
warrenpeace™ said...
Man, that is just ridiculous. They should rename it 'Apple F#$*-Off'.
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2-22-2006 @ 9:38AM
AH said...
Clearly Apple is getting a little out of hand. As far as I know they have no product or trademark that covers the word "Pod".
Splasm is a tiny little developer, who happens to put out a very good product BTW, and they don't have the resources to fight Apple. But I wish they could because this one seems a bit ridiculous.
Apple is getting a little "cease and desist" happy.
- AH
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2-22-2006 @ 12:09PM
Golan Klinger said...
They should rename the product to ABL (pronounced "able"). ABL stands for Apple's Butthead Lawyers. It's an homage to Apple's use of the term butthead to describe Carl Sagan after he demanded they stop using his name as a codeword for a Mac that was being developed.
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2-22-2006 @ 2:09PM
arkowi said...
iPaidforsomethingisquintdoesfree
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2-22-2006 @ 5:13PM
Lee Davis said...
So, will Apple now send a C&D to to the rights owner of 2001 A Space Odyssey? Will they demand that the dialog contained therein be remixed? We can't have the following line:
"Open the pod bay doors Hal."
Splasm should tell Apple what they can do with themselves. A new name? How bout this one: Podner
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2-23-2006 @ 2:01PM
Rob said...
I Can't accept many different video types "ner". Wait I thought of a shorter name "iSquint". It's free and it works.
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