Apple Denied Trademark for 'Multitouch'

[Phillip Swanson]

It only took four years, but Apple has finally been denied the "multitouch" trademark.

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board at the United States Patent and Trademark Office upheld a USTPO lawyer’s decision to deny Apple’s initial 2007 trademark application. Apple’s failed appeal means the term “Mutlitouch,” not the technology itself, is free for anyone to use.

The trademark attorney pointed out that the term “multitouch” has taken on a generic meaning and an extremely large number of manufacturers and publications use the term to describe the touch based interfaces found in nearly every phone and tablet currently on the market. The ruling in its entirety can be found here on Scribd.

“Thus, from the foregoing, we find that “multi-touch” not only identifies the technology, but also describes how a user of the goods operates the device. Based on the evidence discussed above, as well as other evidence in the record, we agree with the examining attorney that MULTI-TOUCH indeed is highly descriptive of a feature of the identified goods. We now consider whether applicant has submitted sufficient evidence to establish acquired distinctiveness of this highly descriptive term.” — USPTO

While this trademark filing isn’t as bad as Facebook trying to trademark “Face,” the USPTO made the right decision to deny Apple the Multitouch trademark. What other generic meaning would other touch-based devices use to describe their user interfaces? MuchTouch? LotsaTouch? BadTouch? GoodTouch?

Apple especially shouldn’t be granted a trademark for a technology they didn’t even invent. Here’s an article from 1997 describing multitouch devices. I guess sometimes even with $70 billion in the bank you can't change common sense. Most of the time though you can.

Source: MacRumors

[PathKiller29]

Sounds good to me

[that_girl]

Thank God!

[RICO_]

lol. Nice try Apple.

[Mysterion]

Good...

[raduga]

It only took four years, but Apple has finally been denied the "multitouch" trademark.

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board at the United States Patent and Trademark Office upheld a USTPO lawyer’s decision to deny Apple’s initial 2007 trademark application. Apple’s failed appeal means the term “mutlitouch,” not the technology itself, is free for anyone to use.

So, they failed to trademark "multitouch" but they succeeded with "mutlitouch"?
or both trademarks failed?

Or apple had a typo in their trademark application?!

[BenderRodriguez]

So, they failed to trademark "multitouch" but they succeeded with "mutlitouch"?
or both trademarks failed?

Or apple had a typo in their trademark application?!

They were trying to trademark only the word "multitouch" is what I read

[trevorrawson]

They were trying to trademark only the word "multitouch" is what I read

He was trying to brag about how well he can spell and how much time he has on his hands in order to sit there and spell check for the writers...most people could care less but those special few who stand above the rest of us like to point out others mistakes

[bigliquid530]

He was trying to brag about how well he can spell and how much time he has on his hands in order to sit there and spell check for the writers...most people could care less but those special few who stand above the rest of us like to point out others mistakes

Lol

[Sn1p3r]

He was trying to brag about how well he can spell and how much time he has on his hands in order to sit there and spell check for the writers...most people could care less but those special few who stand above the rest of us like to point out others mistakes

BaZINGA!

[dennder]

It's good to hear that not everyone in the court lost common sense.These kind of patents should be denied to everyone, regardless of cash deposits or company presence.Wonder what will happen to "face" of Facebook.

[Shahin008]

He was trying to brag about how well he can spell and how much time he has on his hands in order to sit there and spell check for the writers...most people could care less but those special few who stand above the rest of us like to point out others mistakes

Haha! We need these special few, they must have invented the auto-correction. Thanks.

[MetallicaFan1991]

Just trademark Pinch To Zoom and patent that technology so other can't copy it.

[raduga]

They were trying to trademark only the word "multitouch" is what I read

as first posted, the article also mentioned something about mutlitouch, but Philip has since edited it. (YAY!)

Edit:
Oh wait. No he didn't. still mutli