Apple Gives up the Ghost for POD

After a long seven year legal battle to secure the trademark "POD," Apple has finally given up the ghost and officially notified the appropriate authorities of their intentions to abandon POD. The Canadian IP Office notes that the trademark was abandoned on April 13, 2011. The records noted below illustrate how Apple attempted to appease the concerns expressed by the Trademark Office, but to no avail.

Apple's Trademark Application In-Part

Apple's Official Trademark Activity for POD Ends in Abandonment

It should be noted that Apple's abandonment of "POD" has no bearing on their "iPod" trademark. However, Apple's ability to legally fend off competitors from using "Pod" in their branding is now lost. So any competitor who wishes to brand a device with the word "Pod" is able to do so without any legal ramifications from Apple. That should make copycats like Samsung, very happy indeed. Will someone try to introduce something like an "ePod" device in the future? – Yes, more than likely.

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Note: In case you missed the original news on Apple's "Startup" trademark, check out our April 20th report.  

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