• Apple wants to trademark the word 'startup'
    45 replies, posted
Once again, Facepunch doesn't understand copyrights or trademarks. As the article states, [quote][b]The application seeks to use the trademark in relation to retail store services[/b][/quote] Not in terms of startup companies, and not in terms of computer startup. They would no more be able to sue Microsoft over the 'startup' feature of Windows than Subway can sue every dietary guide that says 'eat fresh vegetables daily' for using the phrase 'eat fresh'. A trademark or copyright is intended to protect a specific application of a term that identifies a brand or product and it is heavily dependent on context. Proctor & Gamble can't sue science textbooks for using the word 'tide' even though Tide is a protected trademark in the context of laundry detergent, but if you produced your own detergent called Tidal you might get sued. It's still a stupid trademark but if Apple is the only brand using the term 'startup' for marketing in the context of a retail store then it seems reasonable to grant it to them.
Grow the fuck up apple.
[QUOTE=woaka;42008733]Grow the fuck up apple.[/QUOTE] To an apple tree.
[QUOTE=catbarf;42008712]Once again, Facepunch doesn't understand copyrights or trademarks. As the article states, Not in terms of startup companies, and not in terms of computer startup. They would no more be able to sue Microsoft over the 'startup' feature of Windows than Subway can sue every dietary guide that says 'eat fresh vegetables daily' for using the phrase 'eat fresh'. A trademark or copyright is intended to protect a specific application of a term that identifies a brand or product and it is heavily dependent on context. Proctor & Gamble can't sue science textbooks for using the word 'tide' even though Tide is a protected trademark in the context of laundry detergent, but if you produced your own detergent called Tidal you might get sued. It's still a stupid trademark but if Apple is the only brand using the term 'startup' for marketing in the context of a retail store then it seems reasonable to grant it to them.[/QUOTE] But the question arises - What's the point?
[QUOTE=CaptainObvious1;42008759]But the question arises - What's the point?[/QUOTE] If they want to use the term 'startup' to identify a new branding campaign for their stores, it'd be kind of important for them to know whether or not it would be accepted as a trademark in advance. Apple has always been very strong about defending Apple-pioneered popular terms (look at the near ubiquity of 'app'), they like to create new terms for existing services and then through trademarks and copyright defend their uniqueness. It becomes identifiable with the company, even if it's an otherwise simple term, and that's what trademarks are designed to protect.
[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;42000364]Then I will trademark the word hello[/QUOTE] [code]print "Hello World!"[/code] Ahh snap, gonna get sued.
[QUOTE=Riller;42008138][IMG]http://www.scanmac.dk/apple_museum/2008/02_MacBookAirDK_2/MacBookAir_files/overview_bigair_one20080115.png[/IMG][/QUOTE] Whoever edited that picture made a terrible job
What pisses me off is the amount of money being wasted on shit like this. The company I work for has a applied for patents before, so I'm sort-of familiar with the process and costs. Patent systems are divided up into different regions, and you need to apply for each separately. The minimum for an application in any given region is to the tune of 20.000 euro's, usually much more if the region you are applying in is bigger. And that's not even including the costs of doing research into existing patents, conflicts, investigating the validity of a patent. It's a million dollar industry wrought with corruption, hidden costs and bullshit designed to stuff the pockets of the rich, prevent innovation and screw over smaller companies; The big industries can patent every broad little thing, but the high startup-costs (Hurrr), makes it a risky move for a small company, since without a top-dollar lawyer team, it still doesn't get you any kind of protection.
I'm going to trademark the word 'Okay', since its used around the world so I can sue THE WORLD.
[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;42000364]Then I will trademark the word hello[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://www.bonniebaby.co.uk/media/upload/hello_logo.png[/IMG]
Fine then, I'll trademark the word "apple". See you in court, fuckers.
[QUOTE=Krahn;42009917]What pisses me off is the amount of money being wasted on shit like this. The company I work for has a applied for patents before, so I'm sort-of familiar with the process and costs. Patent systems are divided up into different regions, and you need to apply for each separately. The minimum for an application in any given region is to the tune of 20.000 euro's, usually much more if the region you are applying in is bigger. And that's not even including the costs of doing research into existing patents, conflicts, investigating the validity of a patent. It's a million dollar industry wrought with corruption, hidden costs and bullshit designed to stuff the pockets of the rich, prevent innovation and screw over smaller companies; The big industries can patent every broad little thing, but the high startup-costs (Hurrr), makes it a risky move for a small company, since without a top-dollar lawyer team, it still doesn't get you any kind of protection.[/QUOTE] Patenting and trademarks are two separate and completely different things. [QUOTE=Swilly;42009970]I'm going to trademark the word 'Okay', since its used around the world so I can sue THE WORLD.[/QUOTE] And your application will be denied since you have no commercial or recognizable application of the word. Start a company called 'Okay Technologies' and then you might be able to secure a trademark and sue people who similarly use the word 'okay' in their company name. You still wouldn't be able to do anything about casual uses of the word. This isn't a difficult concept at all, I don't see why people seem to have trouble with it.
[QUOTE=catbarf;42010825]Patenting and trademarks are two separate and completely different things. [/QUOTE] I know that, but it's the same issue; money is being wasted on this bullshit. How about putting it in quality control, R&D or just paying the people that assemble your product a little more? I work for a small IT company that makes small custom solutions, and while the company is healthy, we make sure ever cent is spent properly and justifiable. Seeing another company pull this kind of stuff is irritating, to say the least.
[QUOTE=woaka;42008733]Grow the fuck up apple.[/QUOTE] don't you mean fuckup™
When will they register pretentious?
Damn, my computer crashed on startup™
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