“Ichiro Kameda, the president of a tiny, two-man company in Osaka, is currently embroiled in a bitter battle with computer maker Apple,” Ryann Connell reports for WaiWai via The Mainichi Daily News.
“‘Putting it simply, the fight is all over what I call our beat generator. There’s a small device with three different, sound-activated motors. It’s a revolutionary invention. You can plug it in to iPods or mobile phones. It can also be programmed to operate only for certain voices,’ Kameda says, referring to his company’s product,” Connell reports.
Connell reports, “Kameda’s commercial pride and joy is actually a women’s sex aid worn inside her most intimate orifices and buzzing her with good vibrations when set off by sound.”
“Though the Japanese Patent Agency gave him the right to use the devise in August last year, and the trademark he chose for the product was approved two months later, he still hasn’t been able to sell. The problem? He called the product the gPod, presumably after the G-Spot and jii, the Japanese word for masturbation,” Connell reports.
Connell reports, “When Kameda applied across the globe to have the gPod registered as a trademark, the computer giant raised objections, saying it was too close a resemblance to its hit iPod (it probably doesn’t help that the gPod even looks like an iPod.) The fight really intensified earlier this year.”
“‘This Japanese lawyer rolled up on my doorstep one day, saying he represented Apple and carrying a letter asking me to change the product name,’ Kameda tells Shukan Gendai,” Connell reports. “Apple legal representatives have repeatedly contacted Kameda, requesting he stop using the gPod trademark, including in one letter with extracts that read: The product planned for use with the trademark ‘gPod’ is a sex aid and masturbation aid. If this product comes onto the market, you will be forced to take all sorts of legal measures to deal with it. We would like to avoid a fight over this and would be prepared to cover any costs you have incurred.“
Connell reports, “Kameda laughs at the reaction. ‘What they were telling me was that they’d pay if I agreed to stop using the trademark. Of course I turned them down. If they sue me, I’ll fight,’ he says. Apple Computer Inc., meanwhile, is, unlike gPod users, keeping tight-lipped about the case.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Most of the articles referencing this product (example) are using an incorrect photo of the “gPod” device in question. The “gPod” being shown in most places is actually the gPod Accessible Blood Glucose Meter, a senior design project by Dave Price, Matt Bularzik, Mike Rivera from The University of Connecticut (UCONN).
[UPDATE: 11:45am EST: Removed incorrect reference to gPod packaging photo.]
Apparently if you connect the gPod to a Zune, istead of gettting an orgasm, you get diarrhea
oh boy, I was 1st post and 1st poop (joke)
Why didn’t we think of this?
The “Swiss Army Knife” device will be a music player, a phone, a PDA, a cameran, AND a dildo!
Apple’s stock is going to hit a very sweet spot next year.
MW = girl, I kid you not
Is Apple suing against use of the name applied to this device or is Apple paying for advertising for yet another ubiquitous iPod accessory?
“we’ve linked above shows the gPod’s packaging only”
ahhh, that’s a cover of Shukan Gendai magazine.
Wasn’t there an April Fool’s joke a year or two ago that Apple was bringing out a special gaming version of iPod called gPod?
An odd state of affiars would exist if one was listening to the Stone’s song “Satisfaction” (I can’t get no…) and using this device.
Then there’s the iBuzz which plugs into any iPod and vibrates to your playlist
OMG… I’m SO getting one of these.
This is the best news since I found the Hello Kitty ‘hand massager’.
O.O
-c
MW: ‘sense’ (is not so common)
Talk about removeable media
Japanese Perverts
gPod to play on the gsPod?
If Apple fails to settle, I wonder if Google continues the lawsuit.
Songs for the comercials for this: She Bop by Cyndi Lauper; Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol.
I just use the ear buds…
Connell it’s: “presumably after the G-Spot and jii, a Japanese word for masturbation”. Without thinking I can think of a dozen English words for masturbation, why assume that Japanese is any less colorful?
Must…..resist…..easy target…..for…..tasteless……jokes…..
<thump> (collapses in an exhausted, sweaty heap)
bruce: Don’t forget “I touch Myself” by the Divinyls!
-c
MW: ‘got’ (myself half the way there… then the phone rang)
Change the name to gProd and no more problem
Sounds like gWiz would be a closer description…
“Jii”? I thought the Japanese word for that was “onane”. Don’t ask how I know that…
“Songs for the comercials for this: She Bop by Cyndi Lauper; Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol.”
…and don’t forget “Bop ’til you drop” from Rick Springfield…
Actually, I was at Burger King today and they had the “fryPod”
ummm…..
If jii means masterbation,
then what does wii mean??? (sorry Nintendo, I think you’ve been found out).
MW: “Because” WiiJii, Yuujii, EveryoneJii, especially jijiis. Without exception.
Please refer to the following gPod official site.
http://gpod.tv
Please try first gpod in the world by all means.
The distributing agent in each country is being recruited.
ご紹介記事に感謝致します。
ただ、当社の製品 gPod が余りにも従来の同種の製品と見た目に類似している為に機能及び性能に対する使用満足感が記事の紹介に反映されないので大変残念です。
しかし、今回の一連の報道が全世界のメディアに取り上げられることにより、Mac ファンおよびiPod所有者に大変ご興味を持って頂いたことに感謝致します。
中でもオランダ在住の方からの反響は凄まじく日本におけるサイト検索数に迫る勢いには、当方としても嬉しい限りです。
また、先日オーストラリアのバイアーからの問い合わせには、やはり文化の違いを感じました。まさに男女同権、女性の性に関する好奇心及び楽しみへの開放感には羨ましいと言うより、微笑ましさを感じました。
是非、日本の皆様に gPod ビートジェネレ−タの良さを早く知らしめ楽しんで頂きたいと切望致します。
http://gpod.tv