Leak: Fujitsu Internal Memo Over iPad Trademark
Sources has informed Tom's Hardware that Fujitsu has issued a company-wide memo regarding its official stance on the iPad name.
Last week, Apple made a splash with the expected announcement of the iPad. Even with Apple's affinity for iNames, few truly expected the iPad moniker due to the legal complications surrounding the trademark. But when Steve Jobs announced the iPad last month, those with knowledge of Fujitsu's product with the identical name knew that the fight had just begun.
Tom's Hardware received an anonymous tip that Fujitsu's management has sent out a company-wide memo regarding the official line on the current iPad trademark issue. We present it below:
Date: January 29, 201
From: FAI MARCO
To: ALL- FAI Employee
Subject: Apple’s iPad Announcement
Dear colleagues,
On January 27, 2010, Apple launched a much-anticipated touch screen tablet computer product named the iPad. As many of you know, Fujitsu has been marketing a product named “iPad” for years as a mobile retail appliance. As this product is currently owned by Fujitsu Frontech North America (FFNA), they are the primary organization dealing with Apple over this trade market issue.
It has come to our attention that some teams are receiving queries regarding this issue and FFNA has asked that the following statement be used in response to such inquiries:
"Fujitsu is aware of Apple’s iPad announcement and the possible infringement on our trademark, which has been in use in connection with Fujitsu mobile retailing computer products since 2002. We are currently discussing our options with our trademark counsel and have no further comment at this time."
If you receive media/press requests for comments, please forward the inquiries to the FFNA PR contact, [redacted]. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Ron Mitchell
Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest in the Fujitsu vs. Apple in the iPad name wars.
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iPad wars, its bloody!
Perhaps Apple will be forced to give the device an...appropriate name, something along the lines of... iSlate or something else decent.
If not the iPad what will Apple call its new device?
Maybe the ipad could be the iPod Max. It kind of looks like a giant iPod touch to me...
iPad iTurns iInto iBloody iWar? iBring iIt iOn! iApple iHas iA iHistory iOf iStealing iProduct iNames. iMaybe iThis iWill iMake iThem iChange iIt... iIt iWas iA iSilly iName iAnyway.
Lawyers make me want to shoot someone. Good thing there's an app for that.
Where is the corresponding Apple memo announcing that there is no announcement?
Also... be careful Apple, Fujitsu knows Jujitsu.
Welp all they gotta do is rename it. I'm not attached to the iPad name and it isn't out yet. Good to see one company is letting a large company know before they release a product and before litigation these days. Respect to Fujitsu for that.
Hrm maybee they will rename it to the ipon? Apple, can you toss in Pi-Fi whith the new model? Thanks.
Seriously someone is going to fight Apple for the use of iPad? Really? If I were Apple I would use this as a good excuse to rename the product to iTablet or something that doesn' bring up thoughts of menstrual cycles.
iPadd ftw, and they have to release a LCARS interface for it
then damn, I would have to buy the thing, apple or no apple lol
Wow even the name isn't original.
% of the iPad that's new or original? Zero
iPad wars, its bloody!
Win
IPHONE was a trademark of Cisco. I am sure Apple will pay their way for the name. People should start putting a option call for AAPL stocks. Going down hill baby...
Let the fight begin! Apple is in for a lot! Lawsuit, Hacking, malware and more........The biger u get, the more trouble. The days of reckoning IS HERE, Apple.
Maybe the ipad could be the iPod Max.
I think you meant iPod Maxi?
Sadly, Apple will win as media hype has no associated the name with the product so much that they own it by default.
Exactly the same as the iPhone, stolen from Cisco.
If I were Fujitsu I would not agree to an out of court settlement and force Apple to rename.
Someone has to take a stand.
If you count slang and region distinctions there are nearly 750,000 words in the English language.
Put an "i" in front of all of them, remove all the ones that are already taken and pick one, in order to also get iPad the same as Fujitsu, considering previous fubars on product naming, points at this being deliberate. Just how hard can it be to look up a list of all registered trademarks begining the letter "i" and find a word not already used?
iFuckwit (SICK TO DEATH)
Idiot also starts with an I.
I don't even think that itards, are going to buy this thing, it sucks.
They should have called it what it is...
"Large ipod"
lol iDiot
Good luck Fujitsu. iPad is so close to iPod that it could be considered confusing and infringing on iPod. Given that Apple's pattern of iNames was already well established in electronics when Fujitsu initially introduced their iPad, Fujitsu has a difficult road ahead. And all of that ignores the fact the Fujitsu doesn't even have a trademark on iPad yet, someone else had it before them. All Fujitsu has is an application for a trademark, for a product that they've been selling for 8 years, which MIGHT actually infringe on the registered trademark for "iPad" and/or Apple's iPod.
All of that aside, I still think Apple should change the name, "iPad" is just lame. Who cares if Fujitsu or the registered owner of iPad sell iPads?
Can't wait for Fujitsu to win this one.
I think you meant iPod Maxi?
Haha or the "iMaxi Pad"
Sorry if that joke's been overdone...
This is all just a marketing ploy.
Steve Jobs approves a ridiculous name already taken by another device.
They make noise in the public eye.
More free press.
Apple changes the name to iSlate, which was the plan all along.
Another round of free press.
Everyone wins.
He's a genius.
This is going to be better than the recent Chocolate War!
whos bringing the popcorn?
Actually they should just call it the MAXIPOD
They should just call it the MAXIpod
In a stunning announcement, Apple is releasing a new product called the
iCrosoft
They see no possible conflicts or problems
It really should be called the iTouch XL
I have a better name for it: Cancelled, because that's what it damn well should be.