January 31, 2010 - Taking a brief break from patent infringement news, we turn to a trademark matter. Now that Apple's tablet PC has finally been introduced to the public, a host of other products named "iPad" - including tablet computers from ST Microelectronics and Fujitsu, motors and engines produced by Siemens and even a padded bra from a Canadian lingerie company.
The biggest challenge to Apple's trademark comes from Fujitsu, however, which produced a handheld computing device in 2002 with the iPad name. But to complicate matters, according to this PC World article, the United States Patent and Trademark Office declared in early 2009 that Fujitsu had abandoned the iPad trademark. In June, however, Fujitsu decided that it wanted the trademark back.
This article from the New York Times details the legal fight between Fujitsu and Apple. It will be interesting to see which side prevails - and if any more "iPads" come out of the woodwork.