Apple Trying to Trademark "Startup"

[Renegade]

Once again, Apple has tested my superpowers of not pissing myself laughing when I read the news!

(I have once again emerged victorious with dry pants! UP! UP! And to the bathroom~~~!)

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-08/28/apple-trademark-startup

Apple is attempting to trademark the word "startup", covering a range of products and services, in a bold application filed in Australia on 27 August.

The application -- first spotted by TM Watch -- was filed by the company's Cupertino headquarters alongside the Sydney branch of law firm Baker & Mckenzie. The application seeks to use the trademark in relation to retail store services; the maintenance, installation and repair of computer hardware and other devices; educational services, including classes, workshops and seminars, and the design and development of computer hardware and software. So pretty much everything Apple does then.

And here's your "Apple in the news" prediction for next week:

"Yeah, and while we're at it, let's trademark 'the' and see if we can get a patent on the alphabet..."

[Stoic Joker]

Now if we can just find a judge that is astute enough to fine them for contempt of reality while throwing this nonsense case out we can get on with the process of trying to find a glimmer of hope for our currently seriously jacked-up excuse for a society.

[Renegade]

Now if we can just find a judge that is astute enough to fine them for contempt of reality while throwing this nonsense case out we can get on with the process of trying to find a glimmer of hope for our currently seriously jacked-up excuse for a society.

BWAHAHAHAH~!

You gave me a nice belly laugh there!

"contempt of reality" That's too good! I'm going to steal and recycle that one! (Please don't tell me you've copyrighted/patented/trademarked it. )

[Vurbal]

Apple still holds a trademark for "App Store," at least in the US. Of course that's largely because they settled with Amazon to avoid a verdict which was almost certainly going to invalidate it.

[Curt]

I truly think someone should be sentenced to prison for this.

[c.gingerich]

Not that I am defending Apple, but startup is not really a word in the dictionary, start-up is. So really it's not surprising that they (or anyone) would want to try and trademark it.

[Vurbal]

Not that I am defending Apple, but startup is not really a word in the dictionary, start-up is. So really it's not surprising that they (or anyone) would want to try and trademark it.

Being in the dictionary isn't actually relevant to trademarks (at least not in the US). Apple is in the dictionary. That was never an issue since it doesn't describe their business. The word startup OTOH is a common word in the sense of any technology business. As in Silicon Valley startup or tech startup or fill-in-any-of-description-from-Apple's-trademark-application startup.

[c.gingerich]

Very true

[Renegade]

I truly think someone should be sentenced to prison for this.

Too big to jail.

Prison is only for serfs like you and me.