Seriously Apple. Are you kidding?
In the future, I would like everyone to stop using the word awesome because I would not want anyone else to be associated with a word that obviously only defines me. (Thank you LiB for the link)
–Jane, it is all about ME
Blame it on our bizarre trademark laws, which require trademark holders to defend against all possible infringements, in order to avoid losing the mark. Unfortunately for Apple, the fact that “pod” is showing up in so many generic instances actually DOES threaten their iPod trademark. If they don’t aggressively defend against it, they leave themselves open to the possibility of someone putting out some kind of video/audio device in a year or two and calling it an “iPod” on the basis that Apple’s trademark has been overridden. I can’t imagine that Apple wants to spend huge amounts of money going after “Podcast Ready” — but they’re pushed into that position by the trademark law. And if you think that’s screwy, spend some time looking into patent law these days.
I understand Apple’s need to defend their trademark, however, I do not think they own the word pod. iPod is different and is theirs. I mean with their current logic, they can declare the word tunes theirs as well. I just think it is a bit of a reach.