Google Launches Newsstand App for Android, Promises iOS App in 2014

[Michael Goff]

Any form of Newsstand that sells publications is not subject to exclusivity or able to be trademarked by one firm. That's like Dole trademarking the term "banana".

EDIT: Barnes & Noble doesn't have the term Newsstand trademarked in the physical form, so why should Apple be allowed exclusivity in the digital form?

Generic names won't win many trademark battles.

That reminds me.

Didn't Microsoft technically lose their case when it came to the Windows trademark? I think the idea was that they were willing to keep appealing again and again and run the other company out of money.

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It serves the same function. The medium is irrelevant when the function is identical.

I think he was joking.

 

[Krazy Bill]

That's all we need is another Newsstand. I can't get rid of the one I have now.

 

[Parasprite]

I'd probably just stick it in a folder anyways, but I don't see Apple wanting to allow any apps that are named the same as stock apps in the App Store (oh look autocapitalization on iOS). I would further this thought with a comment on the lack of apps with exact names on the App Store, but honestly I am too lazy to confirm or disprove that.

Categorize under "who cares".

Amen.

 

[Michael Goff]

That's all we need is another Newsstand. I can't get rid of the one I have now.

Then don't install the new one?

 

[dannyyankou]

Huh. Did I miss something? When did Apple open a physical newsstand?

Or did they not actually ever do that and you're trying to draw a parallel between a physical newsstand and software which would only make sense to someone who doesn't actually understand the whole trademark concept.

It's pretty simple. If software called Newsstand that delivers periodicals electronically exists, you can't create your own software that delivers periodicals electronically and also call it Newsstand.

Is that really so hard for people to understand or am I just some kind of genius? (I'd love for it to be the latter, but it's probably the former.)

But Newsstand isn't trademarked or patented. Just the icon is.

 

[Renzatic]

It serves the same function. The medium is irrelevant when the function is identical.

Comeon, man. Jazz hands are the universally accepted symbol of sarcasm.

...though you'd be shocked, appalled, and surprised at how often the "on a computer" argument seems to work with the patent office.

 

[APlotdevice]

This is simply incorrect. Just in the 2000's alone, Palm beat them.

Image

Spacing is important in trademarks. For instance DC and Marvel co-own the trademark for "Super Heroes", but not "Superheroes".

 

[Technarchy]

I'm a big fan of Flipboard and use it daily. I don't foresee changing to any competitor.

 

[Sirious]

Google is secretly laughing. Lol

 

[Bill Killer]

Comeon, man. Jazz hands are the universally accepted symbol of sarcasm.

...though you'd be shocked, appalled, and surprised at how often the "on a computer" argument seems to work with the patent office.

It's MR. Generally sarcasm and over zealous Apple fanboy ism are difficult to differentiate.

 

[Michael Goff]

I'm a big fan of Flipboard and use it daily. I don't foresee changing to any competitor.

I'd love to use Flipboard, but alas I can't. Currents has much better Offline Support. All I have to do is open it before I leave the place where I get free net, have it sync, leave. Then I can read articles in bed where I don't have net.

I haven't found Flipboard to be able to do that so well.

 

[Renzatic]

It's MR. Generally sarcasm and over zealous Apple fanboy ism are difficult to differentiate.

Yeah, I know. I've said that exactly same thing around here a few times myself. Poe's Law and all that.

 

[TimeSquareDesi]

Apple copied Barnes & Noble then.

Image

What's a 'Barnes & Noble?'

 

[Renzatic]

What's a 'Barnes & Noble?'

A stable for highborn animals, I think.

 

[Parasprite]

A stable for highborn animals, I think.

The end is neigh for them, I think.

 

[Rogifan]

That's all we need is another Newsstand. I can't get rid of the one I have now.

Who said you have to download it?

 

[Chrjy]

You've not used Google music have you.

If that one does't suit you, throw in Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, etc.

Then take Google Maps > Apple Maps.

My point, was to highlight the complete stupidity of nearly every post on page 1, where people are slagging Google off just because they aren't Apple. It's pathetic.

Everyone copies each other - Apple is no exception.

I was under the impression we were referring to names!

 

[rtomyj]

I like how Goog tries to make iOS the second tier OS by holding out updates and what not. In my experience it is just making people look for alternatives. Keep it up dude. Its obviously good to get people disinterested about your services. By the way, is Goog the only company doing this? Pretty sure everyone codes for iOS first then ports over to Android.

 

[Giuly]

It's like giving a burning piece of wood to someone in heaven.

 

[kgtenacious]

I don't see a single mention of the term "newsstand" in your provided image.

Sorry, here you go: (also, according to merriam-webster, the first known use of the word "newsstand" is 1866).

 

[9000]

As if I wanted ANOTHER one of these.

 

[coolfactor]

But seriously, what else are you going to call an app that simulates a newsstand?

• Coffee Table
• Bathroom reader
• Living room floor

Yup. Apple won't care that it's called "Newsstand", but they may not allow it onto the phone for the fact that it replicates an existing built-in feature of the phone. That might be grounds for a lawsuit from Google. We'll have to see.

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My point, was to highlight the complete stupidity of nearly every post on page 1, where people are slagging Google off just because they aren't Apple.

Apple doesn't create software for Android. Why must Google create software for iOS?

Because. Eyeballs for Ads. That's all they really care about. They can claim to be doing the world a good service, but at the end of it, it's pure self-serving greed.

 

[Michael Goff]

As if I wanted ANOTHER one of these.

Then don't download it.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

 

[TimeSquareDesi]

A stable for highborn animals, I think.

They certainly price their goods for the highborn.

 

[inkswamp]

Any form of Newsstand that sells publications is not subject to exclusivity or able to be trademarked by one firm. That's like Dole trademarking the term "banana".

EDIT: Barnes & Noble doesn't have the term Newsstand trademarked in the physical form, so why should Apple be allowed exclusivity in the digital form?

Generic names won't win many trademark battles.

Correct. I didn't mean to imply that Apple had a trademark on the term "Newsstand." I was sloppy in my post but by "trademark," I was making reference to trade dress which is protected in the same way trademarks are. If Apple has a mobile app for electronic delivery of periodicals, it's hard to see how it's not infringement of trade dress laws for a competitor to introduce an app for the same purpose with the same name.