Apple already facing legal battles over iPad

by Stevie Smith - Jan 29 2010, 06:10

In the limelight for less than 48 hours and already Apple’s multi-touch iPad is facing the prospect of legal action. More pointedly, while consumers would have been perfectly happy to embrace the iTablet or iSlate, Apple has opted for a name that doesn’t sit well with rival hardware manufacturers Fujitsu and STMicro.

Speaking with The New York Times after Apple’s official unveiling of the iPad on Wednesday, Fujitsu’s director of public relations Masahiro Yamane indicated that the Japanese computing giant has been selling iPad-branded hardware since 2002.

“It’s our understanding that the name is ours,” he commented. “Mobile is a keyword for Fujitsu’s iPad too. With the iPad, workers don’t have to keep running back to a computer. They have everything right at their fingertips.”

Although currently discussing legal options with its trademark counsel, Fujitsu is not alone in its claim. Moreover, European chipmaker STMicro has revealed an existing iPad trademark for its proprietary semiconductor technology and is reportedly “looking into the situation” ahead of a possible challenge through the courts. 

Given the amount of media attention – and, of course, the looming rush of sales – attached to Apple’s iPad computer, we may yet see similar legal rumbles emanating from the likes of Siemens, which applies the iPad name in elements of its engineering, while an underwear manufacturer in Canada also has the right to uses the iPad name in marketing its cleavage-enhancing bras.

Interestingly regarding Fujitsu’s claim, its initial 2003 trademark filing has not yet been approved due to a pre-existing application filed by California-based IT security specialist MagTek. Fujitsu reapplied for the trademark in June of 2009 – perhaps in anticipation of Apple’s device.

This isn’t the first time Apple has faced a bout of legal wrangling regarding the naming of its products. Most recently, the Cupertino gadget maker was forced to pay Cisco Systems an unspecified monetary settlement after it challenged Apple on the iPhone trademark.

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