Apple bought partial rights to use "lightning" trademark from Harley-Davidson
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Apple's EU trademark application for "lightning" revealed a past history |
Harley-Davidson had filed to use the lightning name on motorcycle parts, protective gear including helmets, turn signals, television sets, and even eyeglasses. Apple's application shows a partial transfer of the trademark was made on Thanksgiving leading us to assume that Harley-Davidson still has the right to use the name on some of its motorcycle gear, while Apple can use it for its dock connector and for other technology products.
For the Rip Van Winkles out there, the lightning dock connector was released by Apple this year, starting with the Apple iPhone 5, and replaces the old 30 pin connector. Apple does sell an adapter to convert from 30 pins to the 8 used with lightning, and there is also an Apple-sold adapter that goes from lighting to USB.
source: PatentlyApple via Gizmodo
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7 Comments
1. ddeath posted on 26 Nov 2012, 06:13 6 1
A common word like 'lightning' can be trademarked? What the F is wrong with USPTO? I should trademark 's h i t' so everyone has to pay me for cursing with that word.
2. someones4 posted on 26 Nov 2012, 06:23 3 0
I'm just surprised that you can still be surprised at this.
4. AstronautJones posted on 26 Nov 2012, 09:06 0 0
This was in Europe, not the USA. Still unbelievable a tech company would have to get permission to use a trademark established by a motorcycle company.
5. MorePhonesThanNeeded posted on 26 Nov 2012, 10:33 0 0
The word itself isn't trademarked, it's it's use to label products that's all. Can't patent a word that is found in the dictionary and is something that is naturally occurring that would be pretty stupid. You can however patent names you made up though(trademark).
6. JC557 posted on 26 Nov 2012, 10:52 2 0
Ahh, Apple and Harley Davidson... goes hand in hand with the "look at me" types.
I can get a cheaper bike that performs a lot better in all areas.
7. bluescreen posted on 26 Nov 2012, 20:40 0 0
speaking of trade marks....i'd like to trade mark the vowels.....so anytime someone uses one of them its a little more cheddar for me :)
