At least according to Wired’s Listening Post who tell a tale of Apple Computer slapping Podcast Ready with a ‘cease and desist’ nastygram, claiming that the phrases ‘Podcast Ready’ and ‘myPodder’ infringe Apple trademarks. According to Wired, Apple has been cracking down on lots of folks for using the term ‘Pod’, even though the term has become ubiquitous for downloadable audio files and pre-recorded internet radio shows (the actual Apple trademark is for the name ‘iPod’). ZD Net has a few examples of Apple pushing its weight around and details the story of Mach 5 Products who were slapped with a similar cease and desist by the Cupertino company when they developed a product called the Profit Pod. This is a little ‘evil empire’-ish for Apple, who usually are fairly cool in their relationship with the Internet and computer communities. Mac News World has more. Apple has indeed applied to the US Trademark Office to trademark the word ‘pod’ in additon to ‘iPod’ which it already owns. The reaction towards Apple’s heavy-hand has been less than favorable. Perhaps we should rethink this whole logo design podcast deal.
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