Mighty Mouse, Shmighty Mouse. Just give me a new Apple Mouse with one button and a non-glitchy scroller and that glides easily with or without a mat.
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'Mighty Mouse' Trademark Awarded to Peripherals Manufacturer Man & Machine
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Their mouse doesn't need a silly name. The keyboard certainly doesn't have one. I for one have never referred to mine as a "mighty mouse."
But Mighty Mouse on the Apple website says . . .
Mighty Mouse is a trademark of Viacom Consumer Products Inc., used under license.
Mighty Mouse is a trademark of Viacom Consumer Products Inc., used under license.
Technically, they don't claim to think different anymore, and haven't for years
The Mighty Mouse itself was crap anyway, hurry up Apple with the new touchscreen one!
Personally, I like Apple's Mighty Mouse overall.
As far as Man & Machine is concerned, it really makes sense to for them to have the name "Mighty Mouse" name given what they do.
Ugly site, but I don't know how many times I wished my users had washable keyboards.
This isn't without precedent for Apple, though it isn't exactly the same. Anyone remember the hubbub over Rendezvous? Once that was settled, Apple quickly switched the name to Bonjour. Apple wasn't being sued here, so if they are planning to release a new device, they've probably got time to make it look like a natural progression.
(Of course, it is unlikely that either company would have used this name if not for the cartoon.)
As far as Man & Machine is concerned, it really makes sense to for them to have the name "Mighty Mouse" name given what they do.
Hygienic, Washable Keyboard & Mice
Sealed, Washable, Immersible, Customized
Medical & Industrial Keyboards
Sealed, Washable, Immersible, Customized
Medical & Industrial Keyboards
Ugly site, but I don't know how many times I wished my users had washable keyboards.
This isn't without precedent for Apple, though it isn't exactly the same. Anyone remember the hubbub over Rendezvous? Once that was settled, Apple quickly switched the name to Bonjour. Apple wasn't being sued here, so if they are planning to release a new device, they've probably got time to make it look like a natural progression.
(Of course, it is unlikely that either company would have used this name if not for the cartoon.)
Apple licenses "Mighty Mouse" from the creators of the cartoon character Mighty Mouse who is supposed to be owned by by Viacom.
Not anymore as far as Apple is concerned. Their rights to use that name for the purposes of computer hardware now fall under M&M. Viacom still ownes the trademarks to the character, but Apple doesn't license the image, just the name.
That's because Apple took out a licence with CBS / Viacom to use the Mighty Mouse name. It has now been ruled that CBS don't own the rights to the name when used for computer peripherals so Apple will probably have to stop using the name or license it off Man & Machine.
Forget Mighty Mouse. that's going to be a beaten dead horse for time to come.
Here's another question. Anybody know who owns the trademark for Centurions and their slogan? Would it be Hanna Barbera? If the trademark is still valid, M&M may have some issues.
BL.
Here's another question. Anybody know who owns the trademark for Centurions and their slogan? Would it be Hanna Barbera? If the trademark is still valid, M&M may have some issues.
BL.
Apple has never used the "iPhone" name for a product without permission of the trademark owner. Proof: There is no lawsuit.
We can be sure that some money changed hands. How much depends on the negotiating skills, whether Cisco's trademark was legitimate (they presented a box with the "iPhone" name on it as evidence of a product, but the "iPhone" name was clearly just a sticker, so there may not have been an actual product when they claimed there was one), and the fact that if there was no deal before the product release and Apple picked a different name, the "iPhone" name would have no value for Cisco at all.
Something similar will happen here: Depending how keen Man&Machine and Apple are on the name, either Apple will buy the rights to use the name or switch to a different name. The idea that Apple would just continue to use the name and hope that a lawsuit will take years and end with the bankruptcy of the other side is plain idiotic.
Agree with other posters with similar sentiment: Don't caregood riddance to "mighty mouse". Just give me an awesome mouse and call it a mouse. The aluminum keyboard is awesome, but no cutesy name. I like that tactic better.
Actually to those discussing the iPhone name, they did use iPhone without permission.
Some background, the iPhone mark overseas was owned for years by Apple, but had been owned in the United States by Linksys. Linksys, who made consumer products, was purchased by Cisco who made enterprise products. Cisco had a Voip product line for enterprise, but Linksys didn't, so Cisco purchased a company called Sipura who they combined with Linksys to make consumer VoIP products.
In the weeks before the iPhone release, Apple was trying to get a deal figured out with Cisco because Linksys and Cisco had never put a product on the market using that name. Ultimately, talks broke down.
Cisco turned around and hastily rebranded an existing Linksys VoIP phone "iPhone" with stickers and got it on the market fast to try to force Apple's hand, Apple turned around and released the iPhone anyways without Cisco's permission.
A lawsuit was filed, but both parties quickly came back to the table to talk, and ended up with an agreement that both could use the name iPhone. The lawsuit was then dropped.
Some background, the iPhone mark overseas was owned for years by Apple, but had been owned in the United States by Linksys. Linksys, who made consumer products, was purchased by Cisco who made enterprise products. Cisco had a Voip product line for enterprise, but Linksys didn't, so Cisco purchased a company called Sipura who they combined with Linksys to make consumer VoIP products.
In the weeks before the iPhone release, Apple was trying to get a deal figured out with Cisco because Linksys and Cisco had never put a product on the market using that name. Ultimately, talks broke down.
Cisco turned around and hastily rebranded an existing Linksys VoIP phone "iPhone" with stickers and got it on the market fast to try to force Apple's hand, Apple turned around and released the iPhone anyways without Cisco's permission.
A lawsuit was filed, but both parties quickly came back to the table to talk, and ended up with an agreement that both could use the name iPhone. The lawsuit was then dropped.
They did use the iPhone name without Cisco's permission, though they were involved in negotiations with them before they jumped the gun.
Merely searching TESS is not NEARLY enough. You need a professional search, such as CT Coresearch and then an opinion from a trademark attorney as to use of mark. At least for a mark of this size. But merely saying "look through the PTO registry" is woefully incomplete.
How about just calling it the Apple Wireless Mouse? Like how they have the Apple Wireless Keyboard.
It doesn't even say Mighty Mouse anywhere on the actual product.
It doesn't even say Mighty Mouse anywhere on the actual product.
I agree that Apple didn't do their homework but now it's all about ego-crazed Lawyers and Consultants.
It has nothing to do with Apple not doing their so called homework, The Mighty Mouse Name was Licensed through "CBS" By Apple.
CBS failed to recognize that they did not have the rights to license the name for Computer Hardware.
Since Apple Legally paid "CBS" for use of the Name "Mighty Mouse" and in turn "CBS" thought they had the rights to license the name also for hardware, but the did Not.
So No, Apple did everything Correctly, "CBS" was at fault for not doing it's Home Work and this is why Apple was Not Sued directly for lost Monetary use for past use of the Name.
Glad to hear it
Lets hope Apple drops the scrollball as well as the name. It should have had touch sensitive scrolling in the first place. Mice balls getting dirty and not working is ancient news.
Lets hope Apple drops the scrollball as well as the name. It should have had touch sensitive scrolling in the first place. Mice balls getting dirty and not working is ancient news.
Apple forgot to add the word "Sh*t" between "Mighty" and "Mouse".
At least then they would have had the decency to be honest about that product...
At least then they would have had the decency to be honest about that product...
And no one has considered the original Terrytunes cartoon character of this name? I think either Fox or Viacom hold rights to these cartoon characters if they haven't entered Public Domain yet.