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No Comment: Apple Germany says nein to eiPott

by Erica Sadun Aug 20th 2010 at 12:00PM

How do you say "completely unsurprised" auf Deutsch[1]? Berlin-based blog BZiPhone reports that the German-made eiPott has been delivered the death blow, courtesy of Apple Germany (translation). The computer and phone maker has gotten a restraining order against the Erbach-based koziol, maker of cute housewares for the stylish home.

The lawsuit, which was presented in what Google Language assures me is the "Hanseatic Higher Regional Court," means that koziol will no longer be able to use the eiPott name to sell their plastic egg holder. Apparently the item could have been confused with another product. Shocking. The iPod-inspired package will also need to be redesigned.

Sure, the wee little egg dish is imitative. Without doubt, the item is an iPod homage. And yet, is there really any chance that a purchaser would confuse the items or otherwise impinge on Apple's sales?

We're not talking rocket science. You stick an egg in it -- not earphones.

koziol will have to change the name and packaging of the eiPott or face substantial fines. To that, we say: No Comment.

[1] "uberhaupt nicht überrascht" is, roughly, German for "completely unsurprised."

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How do you say "completely unsurprised" auf Deutsch[1]? Berlin-based blog BZiPhone reports that the German-made eiPott has been delivered...
 

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xdennis

German humor : Apple 5:1 www.Koziol.de/game - Koziol made an online game about it :)

September 18 2010 at 6:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

Because Apple doesn't know German and they thought it sounded too much like iPod.

August 25 2010 at 11:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to David's comment
David

Oops, that was supposed to be a reply to sonic the plumber.

August 25 2010 at 11:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lmasanti

You know... after all those years of software Easter Eggs... one can easily be confused!

August 24 2010 at 11:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macboredroom

They could always change the style a little and call it the zunEi... I doubt Microsoft would have a problem with it =)

August 23 2010 at 3:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sonic the plumber

How can eiPott be a trademark for Apple when it's literal translation is egg pot?

This is bogus and I hate what Apple has become in the last five years. Maybe I was naive and new to it all when I made the switch and bought the whole 'cult of Mac' thing, but it's now more like the 'c**t of Mac.'

August 21 2010 at 9:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Thomas M.

The "Oberlandesgericht Hamburg" is the highest civil court of the German federal state (and town) Hamburg. It's the same then a supreme court in the USA.
The highest civil court in Germany is the "Bundesgerichtshof".
The "Hanseatic Higher Regional Court" sounds very funny.

August 20 2010 at 4:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Thomas M.'s comment
el3ktro

Okay, and what are you trying to tell us?

August 20 2010 at 5:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hermann

These lawyers seem to have too much time.
And the worst thing is, that I pay the salary of these judges (by my taxes) who give in to these lawyers requests.
I feel ashame for Apple and the German court that was involved...

Anyway I have a Samsung Galaxy S now.

August 20 2010 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark Chambers

Well, there's no such thing as bad publicity. New name and packaging notwithstanding, I'm going to the store and picking up a few of these, asap. (I live in Hamburg.) I already found some stores that sell this brand. I think they also sell them at one of our art museums' gift shop; because I've seen them before, though I didn't want to buy one until now.

Maybe I'll even manage to get them with the original packaging. And if I'm feeling particularly giddy, I'll bring one to one of the Apple resellers and complain that I got a defective iPod — ich wird wirklich ausflippen! As much as I love their products, I hate how communist Apple can be.

August 20 2010 at 4:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lars

The irony, since Ive ripped most of his design ideas from Braun.

August 20 2010 at 3:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matt Boyd

I saw this for sale in the Jewish museum in Berlin, Germany. Almost bought one.

August 20 2010 at 2:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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