Apple gets trademark for iPod shape

As the person above me stated, this probably is there to avoid other companies from designing products based on the shape of an older Apple product. Since the shape and design is so iconic, it could sell pretty well. As we see with many products already on the market that start with "i" I wonder if a 3D design trademark was ever granted for the original iMac design.

Obviously, this is just a move to give them some ammunition against the gajillion cheap Chinese clones and ripoffs of the iPod shape-- I've seen FM radios that look like an iPod, except they have a photo PASTED on the plastic "screen".

The sooner the cheap junk is off the market, the happier I'll be. That stuff isn't worth the money paid for it.

Apple is developing a dual-screen ipod touch/iphone which will have, once closed, the classic ipod look (though it will be much larger). You can browse music and people to call with it closed, and you can do incredible amounts of stuff with the "mini-note" from apple.

A trademark for a particular shape is actually not all that unusual. Rare and difficult to obtain, yes, but not unusual. A product has to reach a truly iconic status before the trademark is granted, so it certainly speaks to the iPod's importance as a branded object. Coca-Cola, for example, has had a trademark on its distinctive bottle shape for years now.

I think they'll still refer to the shape of the iPod even in future designs, just like how the iPhone has an 'iPod' icon which shows the same design