Otaku Gadgets

You know, ever since Apple released its first ‘i’ product, the path for a lot of brand names starting with ‘i’ was paved in stone. But that didn’t turn out so good for Apple because a lot of other companies felt like it was a great way to name their products and hence they started using the ‘i’ prefix.

Many ‘i’ jokes later, we had the iPhone which faced trademark heat in multiple areas in the world. But since Apple cannot give up its penchant for naming devices generically with the ‘i’ prefix attached, it has run into trademark trouble once again with the iPad. After Fujitsu, it is turn for a French-Italian company called STMicroElectronics. Looks like they spent a lot of sleepless nights coming up with that name.

STMicroElectronics hold the trademark for the ‘iPad’ brand name for ‘electronics and components’ and ‘use in print’ in the E.U. And they are of course aware of their lucrative situation. So they want to make Apple a deal. They make electronic parts that can be used in mobile devices. So they want to give the trademark to Apple in exchange of Apple doing business with them. As in becoming their customer.

Apple could concede or take it up in the court. The trademark expires on September 14, 2010.

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