Tech & Biz

Apple Faces iPad Name Battle: Japanese Fujitsu Claims Trademark

by Yuliya Talmazan | January 28, 2010 at 10:26 am

591 views | 11 Recommendations | 1 comment

As Apple unveiled its brand new tablet iPad yesterday, many were skeptical about the choice of name. It is easily confusable with Apple's iPod, and, let's face it, has certain non-tech associations. But, today it became known that Apple is not only being scorned for choosing the unfortunate name of iPad for its new product, but might actually face a legal battle from Japanese company Fujitsu that is claiming that the brand name iPad belongs to them.

Fujitsu's iPad was developed for shop assistants used for "pervasive retailing applications." The unit supports multiple customer-facing applications such as guided-selling, inventory look-up and price verification, line-busting, and even sidewalk sales. Fujitsu has a TM next to the iPad name on its website. It is being reported that Fujitsu applied for trademark in 2003, however its application is still outstanding, which gives Apple more room for dispute. It is also reported that companies like Siemens and Conconut Grove hold trademarks for the name as well.

Apple is now faced with having to deal with trademark rights. If it can't prove that the its own iPad and Fujitsu's iPad won't be confused, the company will have to buy out the rights to iPad name.

In 2007, Apple reached a settlement in a similar dispute with Cisco Systems, which owned a prior 'iPhone' trademark.

Apple currently has the highest brand and repurchase loyalty of any computer manufacturer.

Solution for Apple? I suggest getting rid of the iPad name while it is still early in the launch and go back to the iSlate that so many people were actually expecting. That will save them the costs of buying out the brand name from Fujitsu and will rid them of the embarrassment that is the iPad brand.