Today, Apple was granted a registered trademark from the United States Patent and Trade Office for the modern version of the Mac System Software Startup Chime, which has been used on Macs since 1999. The chime, which according to the document filed at the USPTO, consists of "a sound mark consisting of a slightly flat (by approximately 30 cents) G flat/F sharp major chord." (Gb/F#maj).
PatentlyApple has more information on the trademark and the scope on which the trademark extends.
Personally, how this will affect other musical pieces using the chord is unknown, but I can see this becoming a potential issue, especially with nearly 400 years of prior art, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
BL.
PatentlyApple has more information on the trademark and the scope on which the trademark extends.
Personally, how this will affect other musical pieces using the chord is unknown, but I can see this becoming a potential issue, especially with nearly 400 years of prior art, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
BL.