iPod Vs. PeaPod
There has been a lot of chatter on the tech blogs about Apple’s decision to begin suing everyone who uses a variation of the word “pod” in their product name – alleging this may confuse consumers who will think the products are produced by Apple.
At the heart of the chatter is a lawsuit filed by Apple against a start-up company called Podcast Ready that allows you to control subscriptions to podcasts and sync them with mp3 players (not just iPods). My guess is that’s the problem. Apple doesn’t want any competition for the mp3 player market (especially since their sales are falling) .
The talk on the vines about the lawsuit has made me think about the other products I use or have explored using that contain the word pod.
PeaPod by Giant – This grocery delivery service from Giant Supermarkets is definitely in danger of consumer confusion. When I think of buying groceries, I usually buy apples, and Apple makes the iPod, so clearly PeaPod is a delivery service that works with my iPod, right? WTF will I do if they change the name to something less vegetable friendly?
PODS: Portable On Demand Storage – Mrs. Quip and I looked at PODS when I was moving from DC to Albuquerque a few years ago. This is another company ripe for a lawsuit. If anything says customer confusion better than the strange meeting ground of moving services and electronic music, I don’t know what it would be. Quick, Steve! Sue!
A Pea In The Pod Maternity – This one should be pretty self evident. Shops that sell maternity clothes are definitely in trouble Since about half of the US population born in the 70s was conceived to Led Zepplin’s Kashmir, and you listen to music on an iPod, it’s easy to see how you would get fuqing, its possible outcome (kidlings) and the iPod confused. Apple needs to take action fast on this one, too.
I could go on, but you get the point. This is one of the dumber lawsuits I’ve ever seen, and really should send a message to all those “Apple-is-Cool-and-Nonconfromist-but-Microsoft-is-an-Evil-and-Vile-Corporate-Vampire”. The fact is, Apple is just as soulless and loathsome as any other company.
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