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Pot. Kettle. Black. (9/6/99)
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So here we are, back from our long weekend, all rested up and ready to rumble. And hopefully Apple's legal department clocked some serious rest and relaxation, because they've got a lot to tackle now that the holiday's behind them; in addition to their aggressive campaign to sue the pants off any PC manufacturers who dare to steal the iMac's design, now they've got to defend themselves from a "turnabout is fair play" sort of attack. Microware, a software company cranking out bits in the heartland of Iowa, has filed suit against Apple alleging trademark infringement. A CNET article has the gory details.
If you've been keeping up to speed, this lawsuit shouldn't come as a big shock; we told you last month that Apple Insider claimed Microware was itching to sue. Microware makes a real-time operating system for embedded systems which, unfortunately, just happens to be called OS-9. And while there isn't a whole lot of similarity between Microware's OS and the upcoming version of the Mac OS, Microware alleges that Apple's use of the name "Mac OS 9" can easily confuse people in the marketplace; after all, both products are operating systems, and they even both run on the PowerPC processor. Rumor has it that Microware gave Apple advance warning of the company's intention to sue unless a name change was in the cards, but Steve Jobs hyped "Mac OS 9" at Seybold last week, so it's off to court they go. Will Microware win a preliminary injunction forcing Apple to delay the release of its newest operating system while they change every "Mac OS 9" reference to "Mac OS 99"? Oooh, the suspense!
While we're never thrilled to see our favorite computer company distracted from their primary task of building cool gear, we at AtAT are just a little glad to see Apple on the other side of a trademark infringement lawsuit-- because it's a nice change of pace. It adds a little variety to Apple's Repeating Instant Lawsuit™ against the iMac copycats, the regularity of which was far too predictable. And these days, there's plenty of room for everyone to sue and be sued. Intellectual property law: it's not just for breakfast anymore!
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SceneLink (1761)
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 9/6/99 episode: September 6, 1999: Chalk up another intellectual property lawsuit for Apple-- but this time they're playing defense. Meanwhile, Apple settles a long-forgotten shareholder class action, much to our collective befuddlement, and if Mac cloning was Steve Jobs' appetizer, the upgrade makers may be his main course...
Other scenes from that episode: 1762: You Settled What, Now? (9/6/99) Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner in AtAT's "Most Baffling Press Release" contest. While we've searched far and wide for the press release that most efficiently made us go "huh?", the honor goes to none other than Apple, for the September 3rd release titled, "Apple Reaches Settlement of Shareholder Derivative Action."... 1763: Here We Go Again (9/6/99) (Important retraction: As faithful viewer Y. Anrew Naka points out, the Apple Insider article referenced later in this scene does not say that Sawtooth G4s are not upgradeable, as we originally stated at broadcast time...
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