Man and Machine Wins 'Mighty Mouse' Trademark
Man and Machine has won the trademark for 'Mighty Mouse' ending a long, drawn out trademark suit-triangle that involved Man and Machine, CBS and Apple.
Man and Machine makes water-resistant computer peripherals for hospitals and labs where moisture is unavoidable. The company also claims that its devices help keep infections at bay and the Mighty Mouse itself is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
This whole legal battle goes back ages so we'll refresh your memory a bit. Apple licensed the trademark from CBS, which owns trademarks associated with the cartoon character. However Man and Machine claimed that it owned the trademark when it came to mice and so, a suit was filed. CBS and Man and Machine apparently filed for a trademark relating to mice around the same time. Engadget reports that both applications were put on hold while Man and Machine sued the pants off of CBS and Apple and that once it was all sorted out, CBS abandoned its application in June of this year, leaving Man and Machine free to to resume its own registration.
The lesser-known company announced yesterday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had awarded Man and Machine the trademark, meaning Apple will either have to drop the name or try and come to some kind of agreement with Man and Machine. Apple is said to be coming up with new mice and keyboards in the near future so all in all, it's probably pretty nice timing for a change-the-name-of-your-product-or-face-our-trademark-laden-wrath lawsuit.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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ravewulf Interesting. I must say it's a nice change for Apple to be the one getting pwned for onceReply -
08nwsula Apple attempts to sue a company that makes products for hospitals. See, Apple truly is bad for people.Reply -
JMcEntegart 08nwsulaApple attempts to sue a company that makes products for hospitals. See, Apple truly is bad for people.Reply
Sigh. Apple didn't sue anyone.
Rough break down of events:
- Apple legally licences the "Mighty Mouse" moniker from CBS because CBS owns the trademark for the Mighty Mouse cartoon.
- CBS and Man and Machine both file for the trademark relating to mice around the same time (CBS actually filed first but whatever).
- Man and Machine sues both CBS and Apple for trademark infringement claiming it filed first.
- Both filings were put on hold while the courts dealt with the lawsuit detailed above.
- As a result of the suit, CBS dropped its application in June.
- Man and Machine went ahead its application and was yesterday awarded the trademark for 'Might Mouse' in relation to computer peripherals. -
crazymech Honestly, it's fun reading apple articles here on Toms because that's where you get the most biased company-hate xDReply -
crazymech Btw, as a response to the biased hate, thanks Jane for writing the articles that you (and well, rest of toms) do. I enjoy reading, and also enjoy the comments (so thanks user base of toms too :D)Reply -
JMcEntegart crazymechBtw, as a response to the biased hate, thanks Jane for writing the articles that you (and well, rest of toms) do. I enjoy reading, and also enjoy the comments (so thanks user base of toms too )Reply
A reader just thanked me for writing Apple news. This just in, Hell is freezing over. -
ceteras JMcEntegartA reader just thanked me for writing Apple news. This just in, Hell is freezing over.Reply
Make that two. Thank you, Jane!