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Rumor: Apple gunning for iPad trademark

by Mike Schramm Jan 22nd 2010 at 5:30PM

Even though the WSJ pretty much broke the story on next week's tablet announcement (when the mainstream media prints something as true, it's true, right?), that hasn't kept the crazy tablet rumors from coming in. Earlier in the week, MacRumors and the no-comment-on-the-name JesusTablet.com delivered more evidence that Apple is fighting for the "iPad" trademark. While it's already nailed down the name elsewhere, in the US, Fujitsu actually originally applied for the moniker, though Apple has made the case to the FTC to pick it up since Fujitsu has "abandoned" it and no one else has used it. There are filed requests to keep the deadline open for complaints against Fujitsu's claim, with an FTC ruling that holds the trademark unclaimed through February 29th. Could be that Apple just wants to avoid confusion with iPod -- it could be the tablet's new name.

Of course, if Apple does name the tablet "iPad," I'll eat my hat. That's a terrible name, even worse than the already hated "iSlate." I can see why Apple would want to get the "i" in there, but what will be interesting is to see if they consider this device an extension of the iPod and iPhone lines or part of the Mac series. Personally, I'd much rather buy a Mac Slate or a Mac Reader (or just an Apple Slate) than an awkward name with the "i" squeezed in front of it. And yes, Canvas is pretty good, too. We'll have to see what the company eventually decides on later this week.

[via Mashable & MacNN]

Update: A legal source of ours says this is not tablet related -- not only does Fujitsu have more right to this trademark than Apple does, since they're the senior user and they've actually sold a product, but Apple is probably only filing for it so they can keep a lock on anything that sounds like "iPod," not because they want to call the tablet "iPad." False alarm. We guess that we'll see plenty of those in the runup to next week's announcement, so keep your cynical hats on.

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Even though the WSJ pretty much broke the story on next week's tablet announcement (when the mainstream media prints something as true,...
 

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Steve-o

Please post video of you eating your hat.

I do agree...the name sounds pretty bad in a number of ways.

January 27 2010 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Steve-o's comment
D3si9n

I came here just to post that same thing lol.

January 28 2010 at 12:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
john

MacVision...it all came to me in a dream last night...

January 25 2010 at 7:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wile E. Coyote

I don't think that the product will be called Canvas - unless Apple has reached some sort of licensing agreement with ACD Systems (http://tiny.cc/WUZ15)

January 25 2010 at 7:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Wile E. Coyote's comment
The Iron Giant

Canvas by ACD Systems is a piece of software. Apple's tablet is hardware and the two will probably not be confused easily by the respective industries. They don't actually own the rights to the word "canvas" because it is too generic. Or Apple may not be afraid of ACD and could probably withstand any potential infringement lawsuit.

Guess we'll all find

January 26 2010 at 3:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wile E. Coyote

@ The Iron Giant - Appreciate your expansion of my thought, and while I am aware of the excellent Canvas graphics software for both Mac and PC - I was certain that more people would recognize it in the Mac universe. My "point" was that Apple frequently positions itself as an innovative company that develops, designs, and produces trend setting products. While I am not a patent and trademark expert, a simple search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shows a minimum of 188 active (live) trademarks for Canvas. Based solely upon this, I believe it is unlikely that the product would (or will be) called Canvas - but we'll see, later today.

January 27 2010 at 8:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dani Reader

I say they call it the iTouchPadbletbook.

You heard it here first.

January 23 2010 at 6:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPhone user

It's all starting to make sense now. Some things that Apple has done in the past 5 years or so seemed a little odd at the time. But now it's clear that they were all steps leading up to their new tablet device.

Odd thing #1: No direct Blu-Ray support on any Apple product.
Reason: Jobs doesn't want Apple customers to buy DVD or Blu-Ray discs. He wants them to buy movies and other content through iTunes to play on all Apple devices. Especially the new tablet device.

Odd thing #2: Non-removable batteries in all Apple products.
Reason: to prepare the world for computing devices that are more like appliances than traditional laptops and cell phones.

Odd thing #3: No optical drive in the MacBook Air.
Reason: To test market reaction to computing devices that lack optical media, like the new tablet device. (Also see Odd thing #1.)

Odd thing #4: Laptop-like keyboards shipped with all Macs.
Reason: To condition Mac users for ever-lower keys, so ultimately Mac keyboards will be near-virtual like the ones in iPhone OS and presumably the new tablet device.

Odd thing #5: Multi-touch Magic Mouse. (OK, maybe not so odd.)
Reason: Although it seems like an obvious next step in the evolution of the mouse, I think it's the first step toward the extinction of the mouse. I'd expect future Mac desktop machines to have a touch-sensitive pad to the right and/or left of the wireless keyboard instead of a mouse. Maybe just as an option at first. Sign me up.

So Steve wants us to buy content through iTunes or iTunes.com in the cloud, use an appliance-like computer to consume that content and do light surfing, texting, and email. And most importantly, I think Apple has been conditioning us for the next quantum leap in computing. Using those appliance-like devices like the new tablet device.

Advanced multi-touch gestures that you can use right on the tablet's surface will also be enabled when you're using the tablet in a dock of some kind on your desktop. Attach an iPad to your wireless keyboard and you can use the same gestures while you're sitting at your desk and typing your homework or email or whatever.

Oh well, that's enough speculation. We'll see Steve's concept of the future of computing on Wednesday.

January 23 2010 at 2:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mrpostal

I already own an iPad. and I'm not shitting you.

http://www.ipad.com.au/

January 23 2010 at 2:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Spanishcop

Does anyone think maybe there will be several sizes of this tablet which could indicate more than one name and size. Is it possible that maybe there is a IPAD which will be bigger than the iphone and then a ITABLET which will be the larger size? I know we have been hearing 10" for a iTablet.... maybe a 6", 7" or 8" for an iPad ?????

What are your thoughts on this?

January 22 2010 at 11:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bobby Dale Bailey

App-pad!!!

January 22 2010 at 11:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vivekmehta

my vote is : iBook. They will reinvent the name which they already own. And ibook will do for the print media what iPod did for the music and video and iPhone did for the mobile world

January 22 2010 at 9:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
zporges120

"I'll eat my hat"
really?
i wrote in my review in the app store that TUAW should be less biased, like engadget
not steal lines straight out of engadget's tablet rumors

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/apple-rumor-roundup-improbable-removable-battery-edition/
"We will eat our hats if Apple puts a removable battery in the iPhone"

January 22 2010 at 9:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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