One is a development coordination website, and one is an app launcher, so I don't think it'll be a problem.
Last edited by NCLI; October 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 PM.
So if i make a bug tacking website called 'MAC OSX Lion' i wont get sued!? excellent!!!
I think you are confusing Launchpad with Landingpad.
IMO, name trademarks don't hold too much water. Especially if you are marketing two completely different products. For example, you can go out and have a drink of 'Ubuntu Cola' with your friends, or if it's the limelight, maybe some dashing 'Ubuntu Wine'. Then when you arrive home, you can wash your clothes with 'Linux Detergent', and make them all cuddly again with 'Micro&soft Fabric Softener'.
IANAL, but I believe part of retaining the rights to a trademark does involve an obligation to challenge possible infringements. If the lawyers did decide there was a case to be heard, Canonical might be forced to sue Apple, or risk losing the rights to "Launchpad".
IMO though, the two products are different enough that there's not much of an issue. If Apple's Launchpad was a bug tracker or version control package, it'd be time to cry havoc and let slip the dogs of law.
If launchpad bug tracking was made in a years time, £20 says Apple would sue Canonical. Or if someone made a, er dunno, MySQL server called iSQL that basicly replaced MySQL, same story. Suing people over this kind of thing is stupid and childish, but if everyone else is going to do it.... already fighting an uphill battle
As much as I hate Apple, it has a different use so it's fine for them to use that word. Just like the local glass company down the road can sell Windows.
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