Apple to Sue Medical Firms Over Use Of "Eye Pad"

user Aaron Charlie

date 16 Jun 2020

Apple to Sue Medical Firms Over Use Of "Eye Pad"

In a new development in Apple's ongoing attempts to trademark borderline generic terms - including "App Store" - the company has today threatened legal action against some medical suppliers including St John Ambulance and Medisave over a range of "Eye Pad" dressings - pending the success of a new trademark application.

Only recently, Microsoft criticised Apple's attempts to trademark "App Store"; and recruited a professor of linguistics to support their claim that the term is generic and can be applied to any store that sells apps, in the same way, that "grocery store" can be used to describe any grocer.

However - if successful - this new move by Apple is set to establish a new legal precedent as it attempts to lay claim to the pronunciation of the name of its iconic tablet as well as just the word "iPad".

Dontcha Coppius, a spokesman for the Cupertino tech-giant, said in a statement this morning:

"These firms might not be spelling the name of their products in the same way, but consumers won't necessarily realise that if they hear the words spoken out loud. When someone says "hey, I just got two Eye Pads without even having to queue", that has the potential to devalue our brand. We're therefore looking to trademark the sound of the word "iPad" in order to protect that."

Silicon Beach Training spoke to corporate law specialist Khan Believu-Bortit

"I'm surprised at Apple's audacity in attempting to trademark the sound of a word, but if you look at the list of trademarks they already hold I wouldn't underestimate their chances. They have already got a trademark on Bonjour, for instance, and although this refers specifically to their networking technology, I know some of my French colleagues now greet each other very cautiously for fear of legal action."

Whilst commentators watch with interest as legal teams deliberate over Apple's latest claim, other retailers are apparently already taking action to protect themselves should the legislation pass.

Cadburys are reported to be hastily re-branding a range of hot-chocolate drinks whilst marketing teams at UK Supermarket giant Tesco have also been preparing new signage advertising "Green Tree-Based Fruit" for fear of censure over the term "Apple".

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