Apple Applies for iWatch Trademark Around the World
More kindle for the Apple smartwatch fire.
Last week, we heard that Apple partner Foxconn was prepping its own smartwatch compatible with Cupertino's iPhone. However, it seems Apple's own plans for a smartwatch are moving swiftly along, as the company has apparently applied for an iWatch trademark in Japan and a number of other countries.
Reuters cites a patent official in reporting that Apple has applied for an iWatch trademark in Japan. The news outlet says Apple submitted the application almost a month ago, on June 3, but it wasn't made available on Japan's patent office website until June 27. Apple's not taking any chances on someone snagging the term for a similar device, as this trademark supposedly covers computers, computer peripherals and wristwatches. 9 to 5 Mac writes that Apple has also applied for trademarks in Russia, Mexico, as well as Taiwan, Turkey and Colombia.
There's been a ton of talk about Apple's supposed plans for a smartwatch in the last six months. In February, word got out about a patent filing detailing a wearable accessory that could be worn on the wrist or elsewhere on the body. Most interestingly, the patent said that this device would have a flexible display and would wrap around a limb in a slap bracelet-like fashion. In April, it emerged that Apple was looking for an engineer that specialized in flexible displays. But Apple is just one of many companies with smartwatches on the brain. Sony announced a new one earlier this week, and LG debuted its own wristwatch phone back in the summer of 2009. Even Motorola had Dick Tracy dreams.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
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.
-
ubercake Sorry Apple. You're a little late with this world-wide patent application.Reply
I applied for a galactic patent last year. -
weierstrass @ubercake: It is sad that even people read tomshardware who don't understand the difference between a trademark and a patent. From such people we don't expect a useful comment.Reply -
jk_ventolero Article for Tomorrow: Apple successfully acquire patent for iWatch.Reply
Article Two days from now: Apple sues and for a total of over iWatch patent. -
ubercake Reply11080169 said:@ubercake: It is sad that even people read tomshardware who don't understand the difference between a trademark and a patent. From such people we don't expect a useful comment.
They're going to have to pay me to use the technology. It's galactic. That's my point. They can trademark whatever they want, but when they build, they're using my galactic-patent tech.
Don't even get me started if the clock's face shape is that of a rounded-tipped triangle. That's all mine as well. I own that shape variation. And to top it off, that patent's Universal. I call it the Rounded Triangle®.
Hard to get a laugh around here. -
enmass90 @jk_ventoleroReply
Again, there is a difference between a TRADEMARK and a PATENT.
http://www.lawmart.com/forms/difference.htm
ignorance is bliss -
bustapr id be damned if this trademark hasnt already been claimed around half the planet by now. people have been expecting apple to announce an iwatch for years and considering how patent trolls and lawyers have been these last few years, I doubt theyd get this trademark around the world without a fight. I predict onslaught of lawsuits in future.Reply -
aracheb you can trademark as much as you want unless you have an actual product. Trademarks does not work as patent in Trademark you have a time frame to come out with the product in question after that time if you haven't come out with any product. anybody who have a product using your trademark with a decent market coverage can invalidate your trademark.Reply -
iam2thecrowe in more news:Reply
"People are are over companies putting lower case letters, particularly 'i', in front of products names in the attempt to make them more popular"