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Microsoft Hires Linguist to Oppose Apple's 'App Store' Trademark
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Just seen on Mashable that Apple is now releasing a new iPod touch aimed at children. Now the Catholic church is suing Apple because they are naming this new device iTouch Kids.
Does stupidity really improve people's day? I don't get it.
"I felt like **** yesterday, but then I said something that lowered my IQ 10 points and just cheered myself up!" Ok.
This is a bigger deal than people realize: somebody EMPLOYED a linguist! Unfortunately, he has a Ph.D. in English (linguistics concentration), not linguistics itself, so I'm not really sure it counts.
I have to say, I kind of agree with Microsoft on this, much as I like Apple, but I'm interested to see how this plays out.
...yet.
You bring up a good point though. "App" and "Store" existed long before it (allegedly) belonged to Apple. Apple spent a lot of money making "AppStore" a recognizable name.
BurgerStore is nothing now. But if a company spends millions of dollars making it valuable, shouldn't they own it?
Yes, military rulers have always been so wonderful in human history.
You like the irony? I was trying to be subtle on that one.
No one refers to McDonald's as Burger Store. Their brand name is so strong that people actually say McDonald's because that logo and name is pretty much seared into everyone head.
"App" is NOT BEING TRADEMARKED. "App Store" is. How do people not understand that changing/adding/subtracting letters actually changes words? Like the guy who repeatedly typed "using" instead of "suing" above?
Touche!
(why can't Windows give me easy access to an accent?)
Apple should know all about trademark violations (eg: iPhone, iOS, Mighty Mouse) but App Store is too generic. Like if instead of "iPod", they called it "MP3 Player" and then suing Creative or Archos when they release a device advertised as an MP3 Player or called "Creative MP3 Player" for instance.
There was a guy that I went to school with name Bill that had this crazy idea of programming his own operating system and calling it "Bill's Gates". I wonder if he could of trademark that? It was back in the Windows 95 days.
i do .. it's kinda catchy .. my 2yo calls it "old mcdonalds" because of .. you know .. that song
language is use .. didn't we learn anything from Wittgenstein?
You dont say Burger Store? Thats weird. I and everyone I know always say that...like, "hey dude, want to grab a big mac from Burger Store" or "hey, how about a nice Burger Store Egg McMuffin". Get with it dude
Haha! Made me laugh out loud at my desk.
Apple got there first and beat everyone to the punch. Microsoft should just accept it.
MP3 player is a broad term to refer to a whole class of products just like DVD player. App Store was not a generic or broad term used to describe anything before Apple made it popular. They put those two words together and created a brand out of it.
Don't get it...
Am I missing something from this? You're using a screenshot of Windows showing file types and the only thing showing the use of the term "Application" is on iTunes related files?
How does that prove your point? I really don't know if I missed what you were actually trying to convey? It's kinda like when someone is horribly wrong and because of that you start to question yourself if you were even right in the first place.
Just for those that insist Microsoft only ever uses the term 'program' . XP dates back to 2001.
Am I missing something from this? You're using a screenshot of Windows showing file types and the only thing showing the use of the term "Application" is on iTunes related files?
How does that prove your point? I really don't know if I missed what you were actually trying to convey? It's kinda like when someone is horribly wrong and because of that you start to question yourself if you were even right in the first place.
I see your point, but in that example there were already products in the market using the term "mp3 player". In the case of App Store, was that term previously in use? And by the way, "Mighty Mouse" wasn't a trademark violation, they listed that it was used with permission from day one.
I think the fact that Microsoft is spending so much money to fight the trademark so they can use it rather than just coming up with their own name (after all that would be much cheaper) says they don't think it's generic.
If it was generic, the name wouldn't have so much marketing power that Microsoft is willing to spend this much money so they can use it too... Microsoft obviously feels that the marketing power of being able to use that name will draw enough users in to make up for the money they are paying to fight Apple claiming no one else can use it. Otherwise, they'd feel it was not worth all that money to spend rather than just getting one of their employees to come up with a name or even a simple contest amongst employees (or even the public) with a reward (That most likely would be cheaper than the lawyers) for who picks the winning name.
The fact that MS is willing to spend all this money alone says that the name is not generic.
If it was generic, the name wouldn't have so much marketing power that Microsoft is willing to spend this much money so they can use it too... Microsoft obviously feels that the marketing power of being able to use that name will draw enough users in to make up for the money they are paying to fight Apple claiming no one else can use it. Otherwise, they'd feel it was not worth all that money to spend rather than just getting one of their employees to come up with a name or even a simple contest amongst employees (or even the public) with a reward (That most likely would be cheaper than the lawyers) for who picks the winning name.
The fact that MS is willing to spend all this money alone says that the name is not generic.
That's not true. I always find it annoying when I hear "THE App Store".
Which app store?