On June 8, 2011, the European Patent & Trademark Office published two of Apple's trademark applications for "iPod." The trademark applications, which are not classified as renewals, cover 44 out of a total of 45 International Classes. That's even a first for Apple. Yet the real question may be, why?
Is this a Sign of a Broken System or a Message of Things to Come?
The silliness of Apple's trend of filing a trademark under every conceivable class covering every conceivable possibility under the sun is insane. Does Apple's "iPod" trademark really have to be filed under perfumery, baby food, blenders, dental materials, asbestos, carpets, tapioca and veterinary services? I mean, I know it's a dog eat dog market out there, but c'mon.
If Apple is trying to make the point that the trademark system is broken, then I think they've made their case. At the end of the day, what's the use of having an International Classification system if every trademark is covered by every class?
If there's a silver lining to be found in all of this, then perhaps these massive filings are trying to tell us that Apple is preparing something completely new for their iPod line-up this fall. With Apple pushing iCloud this fall – Anything is possible. That's what makes these applications so intriguing.
Do you think that Apple's message is that the trademark system is broken or that there are big changes coming to their iPod line-up this fall? Send in your vote via comments below.
Apple's Trademark Application In-Part
In other trademark news, Apple has filed a trademark application for iCloud in Canada under number 1529782.
Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of new trademarks with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such trademark is revealed by the U.S. and/or other foreign Patent & Trademark Offices. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent and/or trademark applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.