Late yesterday, the European Trademarks and Design Office published Apple's second trademark application for "EarPods" under application 0011472008. Apple's original trademark filing for EarPods was made in Europe in September shortly after the debut of the iPhone 5. What's unique about Apple's second filing is that they add an International Class just for gaming. Did Apple's legal team simply miss this particular class in September or is Apple updating their trademark in preparation for something new relating to gaming later this year? Time will tell.
On January 8, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published five of Apple's latest design patent wins covering the iPod touch, iPod nano, iPhone 3G and a graphical icon illustrating a book that is Cerlox bound. The late CEO Steve Jobs is credited as an inventor/designer on three of today's noted designs.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of four newly granted design patents for Apple on New Year's Day. Two of the main designs focus on Apple's in-store table-top display stands that are found at any retail Apple Store. The stands are fixtures on Apple's classy wooden display tables and provide a base to display products such as the iPod and iPhone. The other noteworthy design patent win today covers the once labeled "iPhone nano." The design is one of the original eight mini device designs that were granted to Apple in 2010. Apple's original patent stated that the handheld portable computing device could be a combination media player, media storage device and cellular phone.
On December 28, 2012, China's Patent & Trademark Office published two of Apple's latest registered trademarks for the iBooks Author Logo in both color and black and white as noted above. The logos are now protected until 2017. The timing of the registered trademarks couldn't have come at a better time considering that the US Patent and Trademark Office just suspended Apple's US trademark filing 85642785 on December 17, 2012. The reason for the suspension was insufficient proof of their foreign priority filing. China publishing the registered trademarks publically today should expedite Apple's application to final status shortly.
For some time now I've been hearing the Android community complain about Apple copying their notification feature. PCWorld noted in 2011 that Google's notification system was first introduced in Android OS 2.0 and was one of five Android features that Apple ripped off. CNET noted in that same year that Apple lifted the notification feature from Android. More recently, Android developers were openly complaining about this in the XDA Developers forum. One topic was titled "Since Android came out with the notification shade first why can't Samsung/Google sue Apple?" Well, today that question is being answered. Samsung is suing Apple over notifications.
The Canadian IP Office database shows that Apple filed for the "iPod touch loop" trademark earlier this month. Apple originally filed for the trademark on September 12, 2012 in Jamaica which acts as their priority claim. That was the very day that Apple's Special iPhone 5 Event was held and where they first introduced the iPod touch loop. Every new iPod touch comes with a color-matched iPod touch loop which is a clever and convenient wrist strap that you could use while taking photos, recording video and playing games.
On December 19, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two of Apple's latest Registered Trademarks. The first newly registered trademark covers Apple's Smart Cover 3D logo while the second covers Apple's "Smart Instruments" which is part of their GarageBand App for iOS. Apple has had one of the best registered trademark streaks on records receiving a total of eight just this month alone. The other registered trademarks that were published this month include iSight, The Briefing Room & Smart Instruments, Apple's Classic Mac Startup Chime and finally Retina & Game Center.
In 2003 Apple introduced a breakthrough in video conferencing via iChat AV software and the new external iSight digital video camera. While the external iSight camera is no longer on the market as a separate peripheral, the iSight camera has resurrected as an internal camera integrated into Apple's latest iPad 4 and iPhone 5 delivering 8-megapixel photos and stunning 1080p HD video quality that really shines on Apple's Retina Display. Today the US Patent and Trademark Office published the certificate that registers Apple's iSight trademark under number 4,260,675.
In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the revolutionary iPhone and this is how he introduced it: "Every once and awhile a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Apple has been very fortunate; it's been able to introduce a few of these into the world. In 1984 we introduce the Macintosh. It didn't just change Apple it changed the whole computer industry. In 2001, we introduced the first iPod and it didn't just change the way we all listened to music, it changed the entire music industry. Well, today, we're introducing three revolutionary products of this class. The first one is a widescreen iPod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary mobile phone. And the third is a breakthrough Internet Communications device. So three things: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone and a breakthrough internet communications device. An iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator; an iPod, a phone … are you getting it? These are not three separate devices. This is one device. And we are calling it: iPhone." And revolutionary it was. Anyone who saw the 2007 Steve Jobs keynote will never forget that day.
On December 13, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a notice sent to Apple that basically denies them the rights to "Launchpad." This is Apple's second attempt at convincing the government agency of approving this trademark. The examiner notes that Apple hasn't provided "any new or compelling evidence," that would allow them to register the trademark. Back to the drawing table Apple Legal goes, as they still have a small window of opportunity remaining to seal the deal. A Major Update was added to thei report December 15, 2012
On December 12, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office officially granted Apple three Registered Trademarks. The first was for Apple's classic Mac startup chime which we covered in an earlier report this morning. The other two registered trademarks issued today cover Apple's business oriented "Briefing Room" and "Smart Instruments" which is part of the iOS version of GarageBand.
Over the years Apple has filed for a wide variety of trademarks so as to protect their distinct imagery and/or marketing strategies. Beyond the normal trademarks such as the iMac or iPhone, they also trademarked some pretty odd ones too. They trademarked their famous marketing line "There's an App for that," along with covering storedesigns , store fixtures of one sort or another and even the leaf in the Apple logo. Today, the US Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a registered trademark for their classic Mac startup chime which indicates that diagnostic tests running immediately at startup have found no hardware or fundamental software problems.
