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Ralph Lauren successfully sued the US Polo Association for having their official magazine called "Polo".

I don't agree with the right to trademark a generic word like Polo, but this is a case that can be cited in Apples argument.
 
Let’s settle this dispute once and for all. Here are the facts as I know them, not being a lawyer, but a computer user:

Your facts have been debunked already. About 3 dozen times in this very thread, hundreds of times in the other threads on the same subject.

Microsoft has been using Application and App for the longest time, as much as Apple. Extensions have nothing to do with this, nor does the very fact of the use of "App or Application" have any bearing on the discussion here.

Prior art is for patents, we're talking trademarks.

General Electric sells turbines, locomotives and airplane engines. Why do they need to watch their backs?

Haven't you heard ? They have an electric General. He's to lead the armies of Elementia against Darkos of the Dead Rising.

(No really, if anyone can make stuff up in this thread and post it as fact, so can I).
 
It would be unfair if Apple had to make another name instead of App Store for their app store because of this. Apple built up upon the name with their success.

From what I gather, this isn't the same as trademarking something using a common word that isn't self-referential. You wouldn't use 'Windows' in a sentence to describe another OS for example.

HOWEVER, try using another term other than App Store in sentence. It's also a bit ridiculous if Microsoft, Nokia, Palm or another company had to pay royalties to use 'app store' in their promotional materials to describe their store.
 
I don't claim to know a thing about trademark law, but looking at this simply I find it difficult to understand how the term "Windows" can become a trademark but "App Store" cannot.

It's very simple.

"App Store" *is* an application store.
"Windows" is *not* a piece of glass you look through.
 
It would be unfair if Apple had to make another name instead of App Store for their app store because of this. Apple built up upon the name with their success.

Quite the contrary. Apple would be free to continue using App Store as their store name all they want if this trademark were to be revoked. You people do realise that you can use a name for your store that isn't trademarked or trademarkable ?

You don't have to have a trademarked name.

Or you know, they could call it the iOS App Store or the iTunes App Store (like they once did) or the Apple App Store, or the iApp Store and then trademark that.
 
Apple is suing anyone using fruit-themed logos. Apple is suing anyone using touch screen gestures. Apple is suing anyone for having an online store. Apple is suing the whole feline species and anyone wanting to use felines in any form whether online or other. Apple is planning on suing any company who uses the word "apple" in over 30-40 different contexts. YES.. read up. They're pushing to have "apple" trademarked in fields not even related to computers, digital media, digital entertainment, etc.

Apple is no different at suing people and companies than Microsoft.

App is a generic term. Store is a generic term. Groceries are a generic term. Store is a generic term. Grocery Store is a generic term. App Store is a generic term. Get it? Good. The term "app", short for "application" has been around since the 70s. FACT. It was around before Steve Jobs ego got bigger than the building he occupies now.

I don't blame sheep for whining about this. I blame the system for allowing this sort of stuff to be trademarked in the first place. Apple needs to quit whining about it and start making better products and innovating again.

I'm feeling a good deal of man-love for you. Keep it up.
 
Last time I checked, Microsoft made programs, not applications. Apple, has, at least since the time of the Lisa, marketed software as applications.

TEG
 
Isn't "Hoover" the reason why the word "Hoover" became a generic term for a vacuum cleaner? The power of the brand name itself. Much like its common in the states to hear "Xerox" to describe a photo copier? Or to "Google" to search on the internet..

Or, Sallatape ( spelling ) for "sticky tape"...

That is true, and is the same with "app store"

People are using the term now because of the power of the branding but if Dyson where to release a product called the "Hoover" then Hoover would be in their right to file suit to protect their trademark.

This is exactly what apple are doing. Their never before used, legally trademarked brand has such strong marketing power that other companies want in. App are using their legal right (in fact obligation if they wish to retain the trademark) to fight back.
 
Last time I checked, Microsoft made programs, not applications. Apple, has, at least since the time of the Lisa, marketed software as applications.

TEG

Maybe you should check again. You don't have to go far. Just read THIS thread.
 
That is true, and is the same with "app store"

People are using the term now because of the power of the branding but if Dyson where to release a product called the "Hoover" then Hoover would be in their right to file suit to protect their trademark.

This is exactly what apple are doing. Their never before used, legally trademarked brand has such strong marketing power that other companies want in. App are using their legal right (in fact obligation if they wish to retain the trademark) to fight back.

If Dyson had released a product called "vaccum cleaner" then we could have a conversation. But they released a product called Hoover. A Hoover did not describe a vaccum cleaner when Dyson came up with the name Hoover.
 
If Dyson had released a product called "vaccum cleaner" then we could have a conversation. But they released a product called Hoover. A Hoover did not describe a vaccum cleaner when Dyson came up with the name Hoover.

What the hell are you talking about?
 
That is true, and is the same with "app store"

People are using the term now because of the power of the branding but if Dyson where to release a product called the "Hoover" then Hoover would be in their right to file suit to protect their trademark.

This is exactly what apple are doing. Their never before used, legally trademarked brand has such strong marketing power that other companies want in. App are using their legal right (in fact obligation if they wish to retain the trademark) to fight back.

that is totally not the same thing. apps are apps, short for applications. it would be like someone trying to coin the term vacuum instead of vacuum cleaner.

the hoover example would better be applied to the ipod becoming a generic term for mp3 players.
 
that is totally not the same thing. apps are apps, short for applications. it would be like someone trying to coin the term vacuum instead of vacuum cleaner.

the hoover example would better be applied to the ipod becoming a generic term for mp3 players.

You are making the mistake of breaking the trademarked name into its component parts. As long as there is no prior example of common usage of a term anything can be trademarked, with the exceptions of various offensive grounds.
 
This whole thing is ridiculous, and I am firmly against Apple on this one. Maybe I should try and register 'shoe store' or 'coat store' as a trademark?
 
When someone asks about an app on an iOS device, the other person usually says, "It's on the App Store," meaning it's THE App Store, not AN app store.
 
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