Delicate Genius Blog

From Wired:

Apple Hits Podcast Ready with Nastygram

Apple Computer has slapped Podcast Ready with a “cease and desist” letter, claiming that the terms “Podcast Ready” and “myPodder” infringe Apple’s trademarks, and that they cause confusion among consumers. The company has been cracking down on use of the word “pod” by all sorts of parties, even though its trademark is for the word “iPod.”

Podcast Ready CEO Russel Holliman said he’d consider dropping the name myPodder if he had to, but “Podcast Ready”? If that’s infringement, Apple is claiming that it owns the word “podcast.” Sure, the word originated with the word iPod, but most people now see it as a general term for downloadable audio shows that isn’t affiliated with one brand more than another.

Leo Laporte has a solution:

Truth is, I’ve never liked the word podcast. It causes confusion. In the past couple of days two people have told me that they can’t listen to my shows because they “don’t own an iPod.” I have to explain constantly that podcasts can be listened to on computers, phones, MP3 players, and CDs, as well as iPods, but because of the name the confusion persists. And now Apple is threatening people who use the word.

I think it’s time for a change. I’ll address this in my keynote at *cast Expo next week, but I’d like to know what you think. Can’t we come up with a better word for what we do?

I propose the word “netcast.” It’s a little clearer that these are broadcasts over the Internet. It’s catchy and even kind of a pun.

What a sucky move Apple!

I agree with Leo and others that the name isn’t the most appropriate. However, you can’t deny that it has heaps of mainstream recognition.

If the name is to be changed then now is the time, if there is a time.

I wonder if there is any validity to Apple’s claim to the term “pod”?

Either way, seems like a lot of lawyers are gonna get richer over the coming year or so.

-dg