ITV Executives Reportedly 'Furious' Over Rumored Apple TV Name Change

[SnowLeopard2008]

This is a rumor. Most rumors aren't true. These Brits are just pulling random (fill in the blank) out of their behinds, including the little bit about the iPhone 4 having problems. Either way, I hope Apple doesn't name it iTV but makes a joke about how these idiots reacted during the September media event just to make them look bad. That would be a slap across the face for them. And would make Apple look good.

 

[Dillenger]

It's only going to be iTV in the US, in the UK it will be iTelly.

or iReceivesignalsthatproducesoundandpictures.

 

[yorkshire]

That's my impression too, that they are huffing and puffing to build up momentum for royalties, a one-time sale of rights, or payment for damages. In fact, my guess is that they'll be disappointed if Apple turns out not to want rights to the name.

I agree. ITV just want money. They're constantly losing audience to the BBC now, which produces infinitely better programming imo. Not trashy, council house rubbish.

ITV want to kick up a fuss, then get money from Apple.

 

[Bevz]

The source is the Mirror newspaper.... That says it all.
Unless a decent newspaper corroborates the story, it's best to assume the whole thing is total bollox.

 

[kernkraft]

I can't stand ITV, I don't watch it (since F1 moved and South Bank Show was axed), but I understand their position. Who wants to get a product launch, followed by expensive, damaging and lengthy litigation?!

Apple should also know better. They had problems with names before, ask Paul McCartney (I don't mean the 'Mac'Cartney bit ).

I therefore name the new Apple device 'Media/Application Box'. Or even better, we should call it 'Joseph'. Apple, put some personalities into tech, please! If the manufacturer's of Henry the vacuum cleaner could do it, you can too.

 

[Yamcha]

Apple should stick with Apple TV, it sounds better, I seriously don't understand why everything should have the letter "I" in front of it..

 

[Jonny75]

This is a rumor. Most rumors aren't true. These Brits are just pulling random (fill in the blank) out of their behinds, including the little bit about the iPhone 4 having problems. Either way, I hope Apple doesn't name it iTV but makes a joke about how these idiots reacted during the September media event just to make them look bad. That would be a slap across the face for them. And would make Apple look good.

This makes no sense. Please. There is no proof they (ITV) said anything. If Apple were to go on a media event and talk about speculation based on a supposed ITV "source" reflecting on comments from "source" on a leak from their own offices, Apple would look like chumps.

Really!

 

[Jonny75]

I agree. ITV just want money. They're constantly losing audience to the BBC now, which produces infinitely better programming imo. Not trashy, council house rubbish.

ITV want to kick up a fuss, then get money from Apple.

To be fair, you can't go branding something with the same name and intent as another company. No matter what the quality of that company.

 

[Estrates]

Go canada? you guys didnt have the balls to get rid of the british queen like the americans did. you guys are our queens btches.

I absolutely agree
No need for the Queen/Monarch in this era that should all be abolished.

 

[MacFly123]

A pretty obvious problem for those of us in the UK.... What's wrong with apple tv...?

It is not as good of a product name for branding and recognition within the iOS platform and iOS products!

How do the folks at elgato.com (the makers of the freaking awesome eyeTV) feel?

- B )

I was wondering that myself haha. I don't think there is much they can do about it though! Either they will change their name, or just get promotion from it and have everyone be confused when they ask for their product haha! No EYE TV, E - Y - E, OOOHH that, ya we have that. Haha

Really?!

At least wait until its actually released... Then sue their ass off if you feel so inclined.

Apple haven't got a chance of winning this one LOL!

Steve is kind of smart and good at branding in case you haven't noticed! He has always wanted to call this iTV but had to relent last time due to legality issues. If they rename it iTV this time, I'm sure he has some methods in mind to get what he wants!

I say do it Apple! It will be fun to see what happens after lol!

 

[kernkraft]

Apple should stick with Apple TV, it sounds better, I seriously don't understand why everything should have the letter "I" in front of it..

iDon'tKnow.

Actually, it's just the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iMac, iTunes, iWork, iLife (iPhoto, iDVD, iWeb, iMovie), iCal, iDisk and iOS from their current range of hardware and software.

The Mac range, most of the accessories and GarageBand are not 'i'. Calling something iPad iCase would be excessive.

Apple could just rename TV to GarageTV!

 

[Jonny75]

So to summarise:

• People on here have little to vague understanding of trademark law
• People on here have little regard to check the facts concerning ITV and why it can't be bought wholesale no matter how much cash Apple have
• People on here don't like to check that ITV has a trademark on digital content boxes (erm, isn't that what Apple TV essentially is?)
• People on here get very worked up on any criticism of Apple, even from a rumour based on a leak, based on a rumour of a leak
• People think that their judgement of aethetics and taste over-rides the law and rights

Yep, another MacRumors forum special.

And people on here wonder why others hate MacFanboys.

I like Apple and love their products. But they aren't perfect - as they acknowledge themselves - and if all this did pan out to be true, I wouldn't defend them on this. It's of their own making. Blind devotion is simply idiotic.

 

[adztaylor]

So to summarise:

• People on here have little to vague understanding of trademark law
• People on here have little regard to check the facts concerning ITV and why it can't be bought wholesale no matter how much cash Apple have
• People on here don't like to check that ITV has a trademark on digital content boxes (erm, isn't that what Apple TV essentially is?)
• People on here get very worked up on any criticism of Apple, even from a rumour based on a leak, based on a rumour of a leak
• People think that their judgement of aethetics and taste over-rides the law and rights

Yep, another MacRumors forum special.

And people on here wonder why others hate MacFanboys.

I like Apple and love their products. But they aren't perfect - as they acknowledge themselves - and if all this did pan out to be true, I wouldn't defend them on this. It's of their own making. Blind devotion is simply idiotic.

That pretty much sums it up and I agree on every point.

 

[BruceEBonus]

BOTTOM LINE:
If Steve Jobs knew just how BAD Independent Television really IS .. he'd quickly change any thoughts to naming the Apple TV to iTV.

Its the laughing of stock of the UK broadcasters and in financial straits due to flagging advertising revenue and shoddy programmes which are more often than not plagiarised off its BBC superior 'brother'.

It survives on a few soaps, reality style programmes and X-Factor otherwise itd've died years ago ...

Dont associate yerself with ITV Mr. Jobs...you wont get any UK sales, mate!

 

[BC2009]

Here we go again... OMG you must HATE APPLE for saying that Apple is wrong in this instance. You know what? They ARE.

If Apple knowingly uses somebody else's trademark (which they have not done with ITV) then they are wrong. No problem with that.

My problem is with Rodimus Prime's stab at Apple fans and with ITV's slander against Apple's brand while stating how concerned they are with their brand in an instance where Apple has not even infringed on their brand name yet.

Maybe Apple is getting too big for the britches, but it seems there is such a backlash to any potential rumor of some evil thing Apple might be doing before they even do it.

People need to get a grip.

 

[yorkshire]

So to summarise:

• People on here have little to vague understanding of trademark law
• People on here have little regard to check the facts concerning ITV and why it can't be bought wholesale no matter how much cash Apple have
• People on here don't like to check that ITV has a trademark on digital content boxes (erm, isn't that what Apple TV essentially is?)
• People on here get very worked up on any criticism of Apple, even from a rumour based on a leak, based on a rumour of a leak
• People think that their judgement of aethetics and taste over-rides the law and rights

Yep, another MacRumors forum special.

And people on here wonder why others hate MacFanboys.

I like Apple and love their products. But they aren't perfect - as they acknowledge themselves - and if all this did pan out to be true, I wouldn't defend them on this. It's of their own making. Blind devotion is simply idiotic.

I also agree with this. While I think Apple shouldn't be able to use iTV, I just think that ITV will kick up a fuss, just to get money.


Then again, like others have said, The Mirror, as well as lots of other British newspapers, just spew out bs left right and centre. I don't really believe any ITV executives said anything like this.

 

[BC2009]

You might want to go back and look at some older threads and examples from the past. ANYTHING negative or anti-apple it is FANBOYS ATTACK. This just happen to be one of them. It is rather sad.

Ummm... your post specifically attacked Apple Fans. You stated something to the effect of "this is why people thing so little of Apple fans". So yeah, it seems you attached Apple fans... even by turning around using the term "FANBOY" (in caps) you implicate yourself again.

I'm just as appalled by the folks who vehemently defend Apple no matter what they do as the folks like you who vehemently attack Apple and all Apple fans because of those folks.

You should cite specific posters and their comments rather than going after the entire group -- especially on a website like this. If you hate what Apple fans have to say or you think so lowly of them then what are you doing here? Your forum rating indicates you've been here for a while and have been rather active, so I'm sure you know by now that you are going to find the opinions of quite a few Apple fans on this site.

If Apple blatantly uses somebody else's trademark here without compensation then they are in the wrong and the courts will correct the problem. However, in this case, Apple has yet to do any such thing.

The ANTI-APPLE FANBOY (to use a modification on your term) is just as bad as the APPLE FANBOY. Check yourself before attacking Apple fans on a forum where the primary contributors are Apple fans.

Yes, Apple can do wrong, but wait until they do before you attack them for it. You seem very anxious for them to do something wrong so you can say something bad about Apple or about their fans. Your original post did both.

 

[markeknows]

A newspaper?

Mirror is not a newspaper it's a crap rag and itv is a useless tv channel. This isn't a story...

 

[booned]

Sounds like butthurt to me, but I'm not sure why they want to change from appleTV to iTV.

 

[gnasher729]

Don't quite see why ITV are so angry... I really doubt it would be difficult to obtain an injunction against Apple launching an iTV product.

I guess the whole story is nonsense. Fact is that nobody can call a TV-related product iTV in Britain without permission of ITV. Fact is that Apple would have to pay money for it. Fact is that ITV doesn't know what it would be worth to Apple and they might make an offer that ITV can't refuse.

And with these facts, opening your mouth and coming out with crap like was reported would be the most stupid thing they could do.

 

[apolloa]

WOW, I only read the first 2 pages and am already completely embarrassed to be British because of fellow Brit comments

I love the slaging of ITV, I hope no one likes football on here because it was ITV as well as BBC who aired the World Cup games, and ITV of course did it COMPLETELY FREE. ITV also makes some damn good programmes and has WAY more HD content then any BBC channel does again for free.

Anyway, no one will give a crap what I think anyway. I doubt it's a true story and if Apple did try to rename it's useless crappy TV system in the UK then all ITV will need to do is moan to the government and make a big splash about it in the media and Apple will be forced to stop anyway. And Apple must be high on ecstasy in cookoo land to think it can touch the UK pay TV market anyway, unless they want to take on Branson and Murdoch and BT and others.

No offence to Steveo but some of the ideas the company comes up makes you think they are as fruity as the logo they have!

 

[apolloa]

So to summarise:

• People on here have little to vague understanding of trademark law
• People on here have little regard to check the facts concerning ITV and why it can't be bought wholesale no matter how much cash Apple have
• People on here don't like to check that ITV has a trademark on digital content boxes (erm, isn't that what Apple TV essentially is?)
• People on here get very worked up on any criticism of Apple, even from a rumour based on a leak, based on a rumour of a leak
• People think that their judgement of aethetics and taste over-rides the law and rights

Yep, another MacRumors forum special.

And people on here wonder why others hate MacFanboys.

I like Apple and love their products. But they aren't perfect - as they acknowledge themselves - and if all this did pan out to be true, I wouldn't defend them on this. It's of their own making. Blind devotion is simply idiotic.

10000000000000000000% agree with you.

 

[wreckshop]

Apple won't use the name "iTV" if they have any sense -- not because of ITV, but because TV in the conventional sense is dying. I'm as averse as anyone to the damn kids on my lawn, but I think I've turned my TV on once in the past two months.

Just because you dont watch TV its dying? LOL. Hate to break it to you, but broadcast TV will be around for a LONG time.

 

[JHankwitz]

Apple haven't got a chance of winning this one LOL!

Winning what one? There is no word from Apple that iTV is what they want to call it, so there's nothing to win. Like DUH!

 

[TheBigDirty]

What? Do you know how trademark law works

As far as I understand it trademark law is there to prevent product confusion. For example saying itv in England many would automatically think of the Tv channel not an apple product. So when you have two products with the same name it causes confusion, trademark law is there to prevent that. Same likewise, if Apple named it's Tv the iplayer, which is an application by the BBC for downloading broadcasted shows.

That is ITV. We are talking about iTV!

Actually the logo is itv when I turn on my Tv, do a google search.

No just common sense and good names, and reality.

This statement is so absurd that I don't know if you're being sarcastic or serious?!? Apple has sued many companies for having a similar apple logo to theirs, do a google search. For some reason it's ok for apple to defend their trademark in this instance, but not for a company to defend theirs against apple? Weird logic you got there and hypocrisy.

I would like to dub you the first ITV fanboy. Congrats buddy you are an original.

LOL!!!! The irony here is hilarious.