“Japan’s largest intercom maker, Aiphone Co., said Monday it is talking with Apple Inc. of the United States about the possibility that Apple’s ‘iPhone’ may violate its ‘Aiphone’ trademark,” Kyodo World Service reports.
“Aiphone, listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, claims that Apple’s iPhone mobile phone with the functions of the iPod digital audio player, which hit U.S. store shelves in June, may infringe its trademark,” Kyodo World Service reports.
Kyodo World Service reports, “An official at Apple Japan Inc. said, ‘We cannot comment on this at this stage.'”
Full article here.
Written in katakana, both iPhone and Aiphone would appear the same. Thus Aiphone’s concern, however dubious it may be.
give me a f _ _ king break
give me a f _ _ _ ing break
Thanks, Lee. A friend of mine is learning Japanese currently so I understand your post. Maybe more of a case now because pronunciation similarities is not copyright infringement.
A questionable concern.
A-ee-Phone is spelled the same way as “i”Phone only if the kana is shifted to provide the correct sounds. The pronunciation of “iPhone” (from the romaji) would NOT be “eye”Phone, but “ee”Phone.
Given the Japanese culture, though, Apple will have to back down if they are going to sell it there. Change the name, pay a penalty, whatever. As would Cisco and THEIR “iPhone”.
Haven’t been there for nearly forty years … should have forgotten such trivia!
DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page Pod Cast
I would tell the company to kiss my iAss.
I’m with iBuster.
Japan is not America. While some jerks might be tempted to suggest a “kiss my iAss remark”, we should all hope that Apple is smarter then that. Arrogance is not popular in Japan, thier people are civilized, and have class. Most likely a very difficult thing to explain to you. In short, if Apple wants to do well in Japan, they should play nice, and live by Japan rules. Ask Pepsi about what happens if a company goes against the norm.
Operator: “Hello – this is Apple Inc., may I help you?
ayePhone Rep: Yes, I’d like to speak to someone in legal about the fact that I had a product on the market called, ayePhone, about five minutes before the iPhone was officially released, please.
Operator: Is there anything else?
ayePhone Rep: Yes, we would like to discuss either a merger option or an unfriendly take-over of Apple computer.
Operator: Thank you, please hold.”
“Arrogance is not popular in Japan, thier people are civilized, and have class. “
Right. This is a country that sells beer from vending machines and has specialty shops that sell used schoolgirl uniforms to middle-aged men….but they are civilized about it, and they have class.
Don’t forget that whole tentacle thing…
@Mr. Peabody
I’m afraid Aiphone has been around for a little longer than 5 minutes. I used their products (intercoms) in the late 1960’s (in Canada), and it was a well-established name then. They still continue in that business. I have no opinion on how that might relate to these “discussions”.
A country where unions aren’t popular, because people tend to work out their agreements and stick to them. Loyalty is bigger and I’m sure if Apple forged a deal with aiPhone behind closed doors this would all be water under the bridge.
And what’s wrong with selling beer from vending machines?
Anyone want to buy an EyePhone. I just trademarked it.
and I just trademarked the ePhone, eCar, eTV, ePod, eStuff….
oh wait, doesn’t that “infringe” on the pronunciation of AiPhone?
Or are they infringing on me?
I’m so confused!!!
@B-Sabre
What is wrong with selling used schoolgirl uniforms to middle-aged-men.
Here in America they sell the schoolgirl with out the uniform to middle-aged-men.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Aye-Phone anyone?
Hey, look! Free lunch! Mmmmm!
@ Mac Pirate
Arrr, matey! That’s my patent you be steppin’ on…
OK, and why did they wait until the iPhone had been out for almost 2 months? Afterall, it was announced in January. The ‘talks’ should have happened then, not months after the fact.
@ To Buster
My my my, keep your childish hostility in check. laddie. My point is related to frivolous lawsuits. Do you not think that this company had not heard about the iPhone a long time ago? And why did they not bring up the dispute with Cisco. I have been to Japan many times for my work and yes they are honorable people for the most part (who do not call other people jerks so prematurely)! However, business is business and the ethics of old are changing.
In anycase, for your limited understanding, my comment was metaphoric not literal.
I forgot to say, for those who like to call other people names so freely, do not hide like a coward behind a new nickname. Please use your usual name so all can see what type of person does this.
And since when do people mistake intercoms for cell phones?
It’s nice that so many of you people consider the Japanese a polite and civilized people. Reading the history of Japan with attention to the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940’s with special attention given the war crimes committed against the Chinese, Koreans, Philippines, British, US to name a few might change your view point. Japan is a closed and controlled society, it is warlike in nature. The politeness attributed to their culture is a hold over from older days, when your head was lopped of if you were found offensive by one of the chosen or their retainers. I lost an uncle in the Bataan death march so my view point might be slightly skewed.
@M.T. MacPhee – Nice try though.
@darknight – Precisely my point. Whether they had five minutes or five years ahead of time, it’s just too convenient to wait until almost all of the dust is settled and then try and squeek one in.
And while we’re on Japanese culture, lets not forget that they’ve almost always been able to take “western” ways and do them more efficiently with higher productivity. I guess this includes being the litigious piss ants that we’ve become here in the grand ole U.S. of A. No matter how you size it up, it looks frivilous from and end user stand point. They produce intercoms, Apple produces iPhones – whatta ya gonna do…