Category: Intellectual Property

Apple's iPad & Trinidad and Tobago

January 28, 2010 by Taran Rampersad

Karel (of the Caribbean Public Relations blog) was kind enough to point me at Apple May Face ''iPad' Legal Battle that states, "In July 2009, acting through a proxy, Apple first applied for the iPad trademark in Trinidad & Tobago, gaining it a 'priority date' to use in other international applications."

Colour me surprised. I've been watching and writing about patents, copyrights and trademarks for some time (normally on KnowProSE.com) and never thought that the grand multidimensional legal chess game of intellectual property would include Trinidad and Tobago. That'll teach me.

For those who are too lazy to click the links, Fujitsu has ownership of the 'iPad' trademark and Apple may face a legal battle if there can be confusion between the products. Of note as well:

...There are several other owners of 'iPad' trademarks around the world, including Siemens, which has the right to use the term for engines and servo motors; and Coconut Grove Pads, which since 2008 has had the rights to the term for padded bras.

Padded bras. And one of the nicknames that Apple's not-quite-a-netbook-not-quite-a-phone product has gotten is the iTampon. Some humor for you for bothering to read this: {Read more}