Filed under: Software, Steve Jobs, Apple, Developer
Jobs to dev on app name change: "Not that big of a deal."
I don't know if this was the right thing for Steve Jobs to say, but on the other hand, I do think it's the perfect thing for him to say. The story, as reported by our buddy Daniel Brusilovsky over at Crunchgear, goes like this: A company called The Little App Factory got a letter from Apple, who had a legal issue with one of their apps, formerly named iPodRip. Apple didn't like the fact that "iPod" was clearly in the name, and so despite the fact that the software was meant to transfer songs back and forth specifically from an iPod, Apple wanted the name changed. The company's co-owner, John Devor, sent a very long and well-reasoned letter to Mr. Jobs himself explaining that their only wish was to extend Apple's hardware's capabilities, and that they were all Apple fans, and that they'd used the name for a long time and they were worried that a competitor might steal their customers and Jobs was an inspiration to the guy, who'd just dropped out of school, and could they please get a pass on this one?
Jobs' response -- yes, he wrote back personally -- was just three lines:
Change your apps name. Not that big of a deal.
Steve
Sent from my iPhone
Kids, that's how you become the kind of guy who runs a brilliant computer company, is seen on the cover of Time multiple times, gets named CEO of the Decade and just generally rocks. I feel for The Little App Factory, I really do, but you gotta believe the Steve. It's not that big of a deal.
We'll do our part, though: the app formerly known as iPodRip is now known as iRip, and is available with a free trial period from the developer's site.
[via Techmeme]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
cromas said 7:14AM on 11-20-2009
Keep drinking that Kool-Aid, Mike.
Reply
Seth said 11:27AM on 11-20-2009
Seriously - this is just typical of Jobs having zero appreciation for other businesses. It IS a big deal for a small business who has an app they have been selling for 6 years to change it's name.
Make no doubt about it - when Steve writes "It's not that big of a deal" - he means it's not a big deal to Steve.
More importantly, its much less of a big deal to Apple that the software be allowed to keep its name.
Todd Sieling said 11:43AM on 11-20-2009
It's not uncommon for companies to have a product name and then need to change it in order to get around a trademark conflict or unfortunate translation to another language. Why should independent app developers be exempt from that reality? Jobs knows it's not a big deal because Apple has probably had to go through this before, and still turns out successful products.
Looks like you've got a lot of kool-aid in you too, the kind that makes you think that app developers have it worse than POWs. Give me a break.
Bingo said 12:53PM on 11-20-2009
Get your head out of your butt, Seth. Apple owns the trademark name "iPod", and they shouldn't have to put up others using it in their names. Think of it this way, it's less of a deal to change the name than it is to get your butt sued for trademark infringement.
The CEO of The Little App Factory needs a lesson in business. Apple was nice to him.
Bingo said 9:04PM on 11-20-2009
@ Jordan: "Apple's way or no way"? What are you? 12? This is business, they have a trademark, and it is not for others to misuse or capitalize from Apple's hard work in creating the brand we all know as iPod. What if I started making cars and called them Mercedes-Bingo? Is that okay? I should probably expect a letter from someone saying drop the Mercedes part of my name.
Not just your comment, but every comment calling Apple unfair or a greedy giant, is ignorant. It's that simple.
Danny said 7:16AM on 11-20-2009
A few comments
Not that big of a deal - yeah steve, why not change iTunes to iMedia, or iPhoto to iJpeg
no big deal
Also, Mr Jobs, I can tell you dropped out of college! It's not apps its App's
Reply
sjdvda said 7:50AM on 11-20-2009
Well, he may have dropped out but he knows his English. Check this out, it's very informative: http://apostrophe.me/
Smartass.
EGOvoruhk said 8:29AM on 11-20-2009
Also, if it's "not that big of a deal", why does Steve care if he changes it at all?
brombl said 9:28AM on 11-20-2009
@sjdvda - Not sure what you're getting at… Danny is right… the word 'app' is possessive, and needs an apostrophe before the 's.' The name belongs to the app, therefore it's possessive, therefore it needs an apostrophe.
Andre said 9:29AM on 11-20-2009
Actually, that link proves Steve should have used an apostrophe.
Thanks for playing though...
crimrow said 9:45AM on 11-20-2009
@EGOvoruhk Probably has to do with Trademarks, intellectual property rights, etc...
Many people love Jobs but don't forget the guy has been called a narcissist for a reason. Whether you agree or not he is more important than you (especially in his eyes).
I think when you do what he has with Apple, you can be whatever you want to be. Hats off to him. Most narcissists don't make it nearly as far or do as good with their personal malfunction as he has.
Charli said 12:45PM on 11-20-2009
Apple doesn't have to. they own the mark. Unlike LittleApp that doesn't own the trademark 'iPod' and didn't ask to use it.
You ever heard of a thing called aspirin. Bet you have. Probably used it from a bunch of companies. Did you know that it used to be the name for a single pain/fever med? Probably not. But it was. And that company didn't protect the mark and after several years couldn't legally stop anyone from using it for their stuff.
Same game. If Apple lets this slide it becomes harder to fight off more guys from doing the same thing and we could come to a day that an iPod is not an Apple product but any old personal media player.
These guys are lucky that this letter didn't come back in the days when the contracts with the labels forced restricting ipod to computer copying. Cause they likely hacked the access restriction systems to make their software work which is likely a DMCA violation. Not that DRM is off the music what's the point of bringing it up now. But a few years back and there wouldn't have been an iRip either. Maybe not even a LittleAppsFactory.
Jordan said 4:42PM on 11-20-2009
If it's not that big of a deal then Apple should have no problem with the name staying the way it is. Once again we see a case of "Apple's way or no way".
This is going to hurt them more and more into the future. I guarantee it.
EGOvoruhk said 12:09AM on 11-21-2009
crimrow: That's part of my point. All of those things are very big deals
Pegsinho said 10:16AM on 11-26-2009
@Charli
Actually Aspirin was surrendered as a trademark by Bayer (a German Company) after the first World War, after which it became genericised (genericized I guess if you're American - don't want to be picked up by the grammar police here...)
Even if it wasn't, I don't think you can compare this kind of trademark with pharmaceutical patents/trademarks as they're a whole different ball game.
But you're right if Jobs and Apple don't want their trademark used by unauthorised companies/producted, that's their prerogative. They're lucky they didn't get an invite to court.
stoleyrbike said 7:21AM on 11-20-2009
Anyone know an app for Mac that transfers music *to* your iPod without iTunes getting in the way?
Reply
mckooter said 7:34AM on 11-20-2009
http://www.getsongbird.com/
Itchy Pajamas said 7:38AM on 11-20-2009
I use iPodRip er, uh, iRip. It's a great tool, and well worth the price. It's bailed me out a few times when I need to move stuff around. Didn't Steve also get his way with bulldozing some historic home or something so he could build himself a new palace? It pays to be rich and famous.
Reply
KeynoteKen said 1:06PM on 11-20-2009
More like bulldozed a palace to build a smaller more energy efficient home, but same general idea I guess.
Klaus said 7:43AM on 11-20-2009
I feel for the developer as well - but gotta love that response :)
"Not that big of a deal - yeah steve, why not change iTunes to iMedia, or iPhoto to iJpeg"
- not exactly the same thing now, is it...?
Reply