Apple Are being Sued!
Yes you heard that right, Apple themselves are being served some Justice by a Arizona based software company over the iCloud name, as the name has been associated with iCloud Communications, a Phoenix-based voice over IP provider for many years and as of Monday… Apple just took it.
iCloud communications has seeks an injunction against Apple’s use of the iCloud name infringement lawsuit stating that the tech giant stating that Apple has infringed on its iCloud name usage, and claims that it has had the iCloud name long before Apple (with a rough formation in 2005) announced its service at WWDC.
The Trademark sates that “all labels, signs, prints, insignia, letterhead, brochures, business cards, invoices and any other written or recorded material or advertisements” that use the name must be destroyed and that “all monetary damages sustained and to be sustained… including lost profits and reasonable royalties” be taken paid for by Apple.
Apple themselves have a long, looong history with lawsuits regarding trademarks and infringement weather getting sued or suing pretty much everyone who steps near an Apple product, so they are no stranger to the Courtroom.
Apple originally filed for the trademark rights to the iCloud name with the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union in May and listed various classifications, including one for “electronic storage of data, text, images, audio, and video; storage services for archiving electronic data; information and consultation in connection therewith.”
Following this Apple then went on to reportedly buy out the domain name iCloud.com for $4.5 million from Sweden-based Xcerion so Apple have had plenty of time to check out the competition.
Apple can however afford to just take the service to the courts and wait out to see what the ruling is, As with its official unveiling Apple have now associated themselves permanently with the name iCloud.
Apple iCloud service will make it simple to wirelessly share music, e-mail, photos, calendars, and other data between handheld gadgets and desktop computers and will be launching in the coming months.
Will iCloud Communication win out? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below or on our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page.