Katie Marsal![](\"https://photos2.insidercdn.com/images/made-for-ipod.gif\")
Apple's legal team this month is reported to be focusing on a group of unauthorized iPod and accessory Web resellers, demanding they cease from using the Apple-trademarked iPod name.
"[Apple] has requested that the iPod accessories supplier cease trading under its current name and hand over the iPodEssentials.co.uk domain to Apple," Pocket-lint reported. A posting on the iPod Essentials Web site provides corroborating details.
The small reseller, which caters to approximately 2,000 shoppers each day, is reportedly concerned over the impact a costly rebranding will have on its profitability. In the last 18 months, the company is said to have spent over half of its marketing budget promoting the iPod Essentials domain.
Macworld UK adds that it has knowledge of Apple taking "similar activity against other accessories for iPod traders using the name in their domain, with many resentful of the move."
Similarly, Apple has recently acted to also prevent unauthorized iPod accessory manufacturers from establishing themselves in the iPod market.
In January the company introduced a "Made for iPod" certification (or badge) that iPod accessory manufactures can display to differentiate their Apple-authorized accessories from those that have not been approved by Apple.
Although Apple generates a reported 10% royalty kick-back from all products that sport the badge, the company says the certification is meant to protect consumers from a proliferation of low-quality and potentially hazardous iPod accessories hitting the market.
Earlier this month, Apple applied for a US trademark on its "Made for iPod" badge from the United States Patent and Trademark office.
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"Although Apple generates a reported 10% royalty kick-back from all products that sport the badge, the company says the certification is meant to protect consumers from a proliferation of low-quality and potentially hazardous iPod accessories hitting the market."
Meant to do both, more like.
And a third thing it's meant to do: promote the iPod accessory ecoystem (an important part of the iPod's success) by boosting sales for the vendors--via Apple spending some of that 10% to market the program and the products. Which they've begun to do, so they're holding up their end.
Don't forget that Apple works with these accessory suppliers to add new functionality to the iPod. Look at some of the accessories that have been released by Belkin immediately upon an iPod update. Apple wouldn't have included the functionality without someone making the accessory, and Belkin wouldn't have made the accessory without Apple adding the functionality.
This is rediculous, Apple has gone to far. In my opinion, IpodEssentials and other names like it are fine. How do companys have the right to change the names of other ones.
This is rediculous, Apple has gone to far. In my opinion, IpodEssentials and other names like it are fine. How do companys have the right to change the names of other ones.
They have the right because the other companies don't have the right to use the iPod name in the first place. It's copyrighted, so only Apple owns the use of that name. Try using the name "DisneyEssentials" for instance (even if selling something that Disney wouldn't object to in and of itself), and see how fast you get a letter from Disney legal!
"Although Apple generates a reported 10% royalty kick-back from all products that sport the badge, the company says the certification is meant to protect consumers from a proliferation of low-quality and potentially hazardous iPod accessories hitting the market."
Meant to do both, more like.
And a third thing it's meant to do: promote the iPod accessory ecoystem (an important part of the iPod's success) by boosting sales for the vendors--via Apple spending some of that 10% to market the program and the products. Which they've begun to do, so they're holding up their end.
...and a fourth point...pissing consumers off, I recently was seeking a tape-to-minijack adapter for my car, they used to be ~$10, now the BASE PRICE is $20 and they all say "works with iPod!" Newsflash! they would all work with the ipod ANYWAY! why should I have to pay $25 of a product that I paid $10 for 2 years ago? just because it "works with iPod"?
GIVE ME A F-ING BREAK!!!!!!!