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June 25, 2007

legal

No “iPop” for you

Posted Jun. 25, ’07, 10:30 AM PT by Kate Marshall
Category | Legal

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“iPop” becomes “iPod” way too easily—but is it really necessary to go head-to-head with Apple, Inc. over it? Orbitcoms, a software company in New Zealand, has drawn negative attention from Apple’s legal team over a proposed software name. Orbitcoms recently developed software that works with Microsoft Dynamics CRM (customer relationship management). The proposed “iPop” software would let users combine their current CRM system with telephones so relevant information can appear onscreen when a customer calls a company. So how did Orbitcoms come up with the name “iPop” anyway?

“The name ‘iPop’ comes from the screen “pop” and the “i” refers to information, intelligence and integration,” says Shi, who says he was most surprised when Apple objected to the company’s trademark application. According to Shi, the basis of Apple’s objection is that consumer could confuse “iPop” with “iPod”.

Tony Shi, chief executive of Orbitcoms, changed the name to “Orbitcoms iPop” but that still didn’t satisfy Apple, so the six-staff software company is planning its next move.


5 Comments

Walt said:

I too, am sort of puzzled by this. Not that I care in any way, shape, or form. But nobody will confuse pop for pod in that market. Sure, if they manufactured a music device or something. Or maybe an iFone. But the markets are two different categories where no one is going to confuse the two.

Remember when Apple first came up with the name OS X? Remember that little company that already had an OS X? Or maybe it was one of the cat names. My memory is failing me. They tried to sue, but were denied because nobody was going to confuse their product with the embedded operating system of vehicle navigation, or whatever it was the *other* OS X ran on. Cashier box maybe? Stupid memory. Always forgetting.

June 25, 2007 11:46 AM
Dave-O said:

I think Apple is doing them a favor. The iMac, iBook, iLife, iWork, iPod, iPhone all smack of Apple and Macintosh. People are likely to be confused and assume they are selling a Mac-centric product.

It's a stupid name, but a lawsuit? I don't know about that.

June 25, 2007 12:31 PM
Dave-O said:

@Walt, it was OS 9. Apple had to promise to always refer to it as Mac OS 9.

June 26, 2007 6:30 AM
tayker Author Profile Page said:

I think of Cisco when I think of iPhone.

I think Apple needs to stop with the silly legal actions. So what if a someone uses the letter "i," or the word(s) "apple" and/or "pod" in a name. They're a multi-billion dollar company and I can't buy into the thought of a small company swallowing it up over a letter or word.

Also, I think consumers are smart enough to differentiate iPop CRM from an iPod PMP. Now, if the Zune was called iPop then I'd think Apple would have a more legitimate concern.

June 26, 2007 7:03 AM
Dan Moren Author Profile Page said:

"Also, I think consumers are smart enough to differentiate iPop CRM from an iPod PMP."

@tayker: That may be true, but since Apple owns the trademark on iPod, they are legally bound to defend it, or else they could lose it. And come on: it's not like these people had never heard of the iPod when they named their system.

"I think of Cisco when I think of iPhone."

LOL.

June 26, 2007 8:03 AM

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