Comments on: Why is Apple filing a iPodcast Patent?

By: treocast

treocast — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:57:14 +0000

“That’s not accurate. Apple has gone after directories and programs that used “ipod” in their names, because Apple is trying to protect its trademark.”

Actually, that is not entirely accurate. Apple has “gone after” Podcast Ready, Inc. for their use of the word ‘pod’ in their trademarks: “podcastready” and “mypodder”.

Also too, they have filed a trademark application for the word “pod”.

By: DevZero

DevZero — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:21:13 +0000

"they have thus far shown an inclination to go after podcast directories and those that have a podcast aggregator with name podcast" That's not accurate. Apple has gone after directories and programs that used "ipod" in their names, because Apple is trying to protect its trademark. "a now defunct podcast directory that Adam Curry started " You mean indiepodder.org, formerly ipodder.org. It's not defunct in any way, shape, or form. Seriously, guy, do some homework before you post at a place that has "news" in its name.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:07:01 +0000

What’s the big deal? That’s exactly how podcasts are implemented on the iPod today except they happened to put an “i” in front of “Podcasts”. And it’s a patent, not a trademark application; they’re protecting what it is, not what it’s called.

They’re just filing the patent so they can avoid another legal situation like they had with Creative. This doesn’t seem particularly egregious.

And haven’t we already settled that Apple wasn’t going after Podcast Ready because of the word “podcast” in their name but rather because of myPodder, which sounds a lot like iPod?