Apple Goes After Open Source Startup For Daring To Use The Term 'App Store'
from the butt-head-astronomer-store dept
Those of you up on your Apple history may know that the company once had a sense of humor. It once had a project that went by the code name “Sagan,” and when astronomer Carl Sagan got angry and sent a cease-and-desist, Apple changed the project name to “Butt-Head Astronomer” or “BHA” (eventually leading to a defamation lawsuit that failed). So with Apple now being the insane company sending out cease-and-desist letters over something they shouldn’t care about, perhaps it’s time to help people rename the “app store.”
As you probably have heard, Apple is trying to convince the world that “app store” is not generic and that it holds the trademark on it. This has resulted in lots of people trying to invalidate the trademark, and one lawsuit against Amazon. Rather than taking a step back, Apple has become much more aggressive, lately (even though Steve Jobs has been caught calling other app stores “app stores”).
We recently noted that it had threatened the developer organization Wireless Industry Partnership for daring to have a webpage that lists out alternative app stores. Carl J points us to the news that the company is now also threatening the open source startup Amahi with a similar cease-and-desist, for the app store it has for its home web server offering.
While the company is still deciding what to do, it’s asking people to suggest potential alternatives:
We?d like it if you submit your suggestion for a term to use for Amahi?s store area, in every language on the surface of the earth, except of course using the term ?app store.? Keep them short! We will use one of the top suggestions to name that area of our site.
Anyone have suggestions that would fit with the spirit of Apple’s response to Carl Sagan?
Comments on “Apple Goes After Open Source Startup For Daring To Use The Term 'App Store'”
Just so sick
of these ‘AppStore’ arguments. Do I have to take AppStore away from you kids? Don’t make me turn this Internet around, because I will.
Assle Store, shorterned to Ass Store.
Re: Re:
Ha! Asstore was my first thought after reading the headline of this post. Glad I’m not the only one.
app store
applesource[sauce]
rottenapple
Didn't Apple get slapped down ont the Amazon lawsuit?
I thought I saw a headline yesterday that the courts ruled against Apple in their suit against Amazon. If that is the case, this store should just send a copy of the judgement to Apple and say no thanks.
Re: Didn't Apple get slapped down ont the Amazon lawsuit?
No ruing yet but Judge indicated Apple had some problems with their case– “stumbling block” was the word the Reuters article used. No one explained exactly what the stumbling block was.
How about “Application Store”?
Re: Re:
How about this
Store (that is online and, from which, you can download applications)
Re: Re: Re:
The store formerly known as app store.
Suggestion
How about “app siopa”? That might be a nice kick to the teeth for Apple.
Re: Suggestion
How about a “Steve Jobs can suck it, this is an App Store” store?
Wouldn’t it be great if the American Farmers Association rustled up an international class-action against ‘Apple’ for illegally appropriating the name of one of their ‘core’ products?
Re: Re:
Roffle. 😀
In the spirit of this article: “Butt-head Central (for people who don’t wear belts)”
how about pomonella store. after the codling moth, whose larva is found in apples.
How about....
… Walled Garden of Pure Ideology
Any of these?
Crab Apple Store
Sour Apple Store
Rotten Apple Store
Bad Apple Store
Application Store
The Better Than Apple Store
Re: Re:
-1c store (and then always sell anything found both there and on the apple store for one cent less than on the apple store?)
ok, not quite the same spirit.
heh. i know!
ple store. (because clearly, app is short of apple.)
pear store.
app crate.
app shop
app werehouse
app tree
orchid (again, if apple insists that ‘app’ is short for ‘apple’ rather than ‘application’, why not?)
Re: Re: Re:
I actually like “app crate” or they could go with “APPle sued us STORE”
BHC Store (Butt-Head Corporation)
unapple store?
maybe that would work?
crapp store?
applesucks store?
I dunno
Store for Apps
Appli Store
App Shop
Think Differently Again Store
Shut Your Frakin’ Mouth Store
Which part is trademarked? The two words used together, right? Keep it simple and just change one:
App Shop
App Mart
App Stop
Of course, I expect royalties.
Re: Re:
Shop Smart, Shop App Mart!
Hate apple
How about this,
AppLE store.
They can say that it stands for App Limited Edition store.
Or any variation. Like App LE Store. App.le Store. App.LE Store. aPple Store. iApp Store.
Their motto could be “Amahi App Limited Edition Store. AppLE Store! Standing in defiance of doministic capitalism!”
core store
Q: What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?
A: Finding half a worm
Re: Re:
“Half a Worm Store” I like it.
Re: Re: Re:
0.5 worm store
(in the spirit of the ‘$1.03 store’)
too bad there’s not a currency symbol for worms.
store for apps?
pomme de terre?
crapp store?
AppShop
What about AppShop?
The Concept is SO Original!
How about calling it the CNR (Click ‘N’ Run) Store? That name can’t possibly be taken…
AppliNation
Apple-like Store
Red Fruit White Center
AppUpYourStore
In the 1980s I worked for an Apple retailer and they had a training program called Apple C.O.R. (Customer Oriented Retailing).
AppleCore Store
Red Delicious
OK. That was fun.
TRAFC – That Rotten “A” Fruit Company
APIP Store – Apples Pathetic IP (Of course, having Apple as part of the abriv. probably wouldn’t work)
Those are the only two that even remotely fit that I can come up with. For apple there is of course, SUSJ, or “Shut up Steve Jobs”, but that’s only if they lose on the App trademark due to his general use of app.
Superior Program Store.
“Why waste money on pathetic ‘apps’, when you could purchase significantly better programs from these fine stores? Also, your money won’t be going to a bunch of lawsuit-happy jerks.”
For The Times crossword enthusiasts
How about one for all the Times cross word enthusiasts
Not A Piracies Plot
I don't get it...
Apple getting a trademark on App Store is like rapper 50 Cent owning a trademark on “Candy Shop”.
I’m going to start a computer parts store called “HardWare Store” and then sue Ace and True Value.
CNAC App Shack (Cupertino Needs a Clue)
Retard in a turtleneck store.
A.P.P Store. make up something for the initials to mean, ie, Advanced Programs and Protocols
Re: Hey, that was MY idea!
APP* store
*Applications, programs, and platforms
In the Apple to Sagan spirit:
Butt-Head AApp store – BHAa store, they can infer what the extra A is for.
Or ppa store – app backwards.
Phonetics?
Let’s go even simpler! Drop one letter, yielding something like
or, even better, add one letter, and piss them off by pre-empting something else they’ll retroactively wish they’d trademarked:
Can’t you just hear the Apple lawyers now, going, “Awwww, maaaaaaaan!”
Re: Phonetics?
I don’t think the lawyers mind.
They know a cash cow when they see one……a big fat 7bn cash cow.
Re: Phonetics?
Or the iApp Store
Re: Re: Phonetics?
Or the iAppi iStorei.
How?
How does one go about suggesting one of these names? We have some good ones here. I checked their website and their forums and didn’t see anything.
How about “The TTS Store” (any long fan of Dilbert should get that). It seems an oddly appropriate jab at Apple.
Re: How?
Never mind, Found it.
http://www.amahi.org/name-the-store
Crapple Store
App using Google translation:
Apuri = app in Japanese
tsragiry = app in Armenian
prykladannie = app in Belarusian
aplicaci? = in Catalan
Y?ngy?ng ch?ngx? = in Chinese
Bŏksa = in Indi
aplikasi = in Indonesian
Aplikēśan = in Kannada
eung-yong peulogeulaem = in Korean
stan = in Macedonian
aplikacji = in Polish
prilozhenie = in Russian
Апп = in Serbian
aplicaci?n = in Spanish
Payaṉpāṭu = in Tamil
Anuvartanaṁ = in Telugo
dodatok = in Ukranian
Other words:
Application
Software
widget
Program
My suggestion:
Ape Store
iApe Store
Ape iStore
App iCounter
App iDepo
Apple Corner
App iCorner
App iBarn
Appland
iAppland
Apoo Store
Appoo iStore
Re: Re:
Auto-generated translations are such fail
The ones you posted for Serbian, Macedonian, Russian, Ukranian and Armenian do not mean what you think they mean.
All of them use the same one as the Polish translation for the word uses.
The origianal English romanization of the word “Application”
Re: Re:
you forgot apple= asshole in any langauge
App Store
so should Apple competitors call it the MAC store = Moblie Application Convenience Store
The leading suggestion is:
iStore (107)
LoL
Apple… no wonder that company is just so chock full of fail. I always avoided them due to price and restrictions, but now – I’ll avoid them on principle as well.
Go develop things and quit suing people over stupid stuff.
Thanks, Apple! without your lawsuit, I would have never found this awesome home server system!
Not very catchy, but how about the ‘App Stands for Application not Apple and No One Will Ever Believe Otherwise for Chrissakes!’ store?
The fruit stand. We have bananas, cherries, oranges, pineapples. Sorry, no apples.
Call it an “aqq store” and trademark the term, and licence it out for free to everone EXCEPT Aqqle.
Apple has the "app store" --- get over it.
Maybe it’s just that I have a better memory than most other people… or maybe it’s just because no other company had the insight to use “app store” first.
Microsoft, back when it had an online store for it’s failed smart-type phone, had a little thing called “Catalog”… for it’s Sidekick device. It was an online store, but choose a more techie name. And yes, Catalog was wildly used around the world. And, who complained?
Now that Apple has the “app store” name – those wishing they had it are now throwing hissy-fits. Stop being whinny snot-nosed-kids and move on. Geesh!
Re: Apple has the "app store" --- get over it.
Sorry, really can’t bring myself to give a monkeys about who used the term first commercially. “App” has been the abbreviation for “Application” ever since there have been computer applications. Cf. “Applet” meaning a small application.
A “cool” catchphrase doesn’t mean you get to own a standard term. Especially when the “Sue-er In Chief” himself used the term in exactly that context.
Oh.. and:
Being the first to package crap-ware in one place also does not mean you get to own a standard term.
That might stand up as an argument if you can show the many companies perhaps such as Universal, Sears, ScrewFix, RS Online, Victoria Secret etc. that Microsoft sued for use of the term catalog.
Re: Re: Apple has the "app store" --- get over it.
— “App” has been the abbreviation for “Application” ever since there have been computer applications. —
Sure, I agree. And “Windows” has been the name for the little windows you look at on your computer ever since the Graphical User Interface was released (well before Windows 1). And yet, Microsoft has that trademarked and yes, has sued many many companies out of existence.
— “Being the first to package crap-ware in one place also does not mean you get to own a standard term.” —
Actually, you switched to off topic. Focus please. It’s not your opinion of the software (don’t be jealous) that matters here. It’s who owns the name. And yes, first one to raise their hand gets the name.
— And yes, Catalog was wildly used around the world. And, who complained? —
I don’t think anyone knew – the failure was so complete.
— That might stand up as an argument if you can show the many companies perhaps such as Universal, Sears, ScrewFix, RS Online, Victoria Secret etc. that Microsoft sued for use of the term catalog. —
Yet, Microsoft was able to Trademark that common name as well.
Anyway, thank you for your comments. Good discussion keeps the world revolving.
Re: Re: Re: Apple has the "app store" --- get over it.
Would you prefer if i said; “With a business primarily focused on consumer-oriented computing-type products, often with as much if not more ‘fashion value’ as substance, it is natural that Apple would be the first to actually succeed with marketing such an application repository and shopfront. It’s primary value for Apple and others is in enabling them to capitalise on high-volume, low-value products in an efficient manner, which is wholly in keeping with their perceived business model, and the store itself is heavy on the “cool but pointless” products that succeed best in that space. However, being the first to succeed with something that, as you point out, others had already done before does not in my mind have anything to do with attempting to hijack an obvious and generic term for the function of the system to be a proper and exclusive name for anything. Hardly an “insight” I feel, more a lazy day for a marketing exec.”
It was shorter the first time though.
Which, to my mind, points at something very broken in the trademark system rather than something good that one should just “get over”.
How about:
BHA for Butt Head Apple?
New name
NAAS.com – short for Not Apple’s App Store…
In honor of the Apple II clone from years gone by...
OStore [O as in On Line and O as in Orange]
Re: In honor of the Apple II clone from years gone by...
I was going to go with OrStore (along the lines of Oranges as well)
appStore
How about App Shop?
iReacharound Store?
Use them all.. perhaps under different contexts
Appllery: (app gallery .. and maybe as well apple gallery)
Applery: (where the theme/motif more clearly is apples)
Maybe use the first and then mock Apple if they ever adopt the second.
App Core: (Apple will love this one as will anyone seriously into apps)
1984 Red Face: (besides the multiple Apple mocks, it might even hint at facebook like features).
Fruit That Is Doomed: (fruit of a loom semblance but related to apple as forbidden fruit and doomed company.. mostly for fun, perhaps as parody)
Really? give it up Apple
there is WAY WAY too many compaines using the term App Store.. for example if you have Dish Net work there is an App Store on your TV to get Apps to load onscreen, say for Weather or Sports, or live video feeds. Amazon uses it, tons of others. App means Application.. Store means a place you can buy things.. an App Store should be where you can buy apps no matter what platform you are using. Next Apple is going to sue Washington Apples for useing the word Apple.
“POmaceous Fruits are F***wits Store” (POFF-Store)?
how about
The Orchard….its where most of the business involving apple happens 🙂
fapp store
application station
code bodega
app le magasin
How about...
Apple Apps Sucks store.
Given that “Sucks: sites have a definite legality that has been proven…
I've got something... maybe
The Lisa Store!
Forbidden Fruit Store
“IsaacsHeadBump.” or “WhackedIsaac.”
App St?re
Yeah I occationally listen to Mot?rhead…
AAA STORE apple are assholes store
OFSJ store one finger at Steve jobs store
OBA = one bad apple store
IHA = i hate apple store
AAP = apple are prats store
finally GLTA = gnu linux trumps apple or you can substitute tramples for trumps.
Apple has Poopy Pants Store
Trademarks Aren?t Supposed To Mean Anything
?App Store? clearly means what it says, so how can you trademark it?
i always like a short pun, especially if it’s sweet, juicy and to the point.
sCOREd.
Very sad
Seriously this couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. No sarcasm, the guy truly is an awesome guy who doesn’t deserve this. Back when I was using Amahi the guy personally looked into my setup remotely to get it working for me and spends hours helping users. I was really disheartened to hear about this and wish him nothing but the best.
Use their name in a way that can't infringe
Call it the “non-Apple Store” – there’s absolutely no chance of consumer confusion, the “Apple” name is used fairly to accurately describe what it is, and it should really piss off the wankers at Apple.
Store Name
How about the AppYours Store
What if everyone with an website makes a “App Store” or renames it something similar. Wonder if Steve has the guts to take actions to 10.000.000 “App Store” holders.
RA — Rotten Apple
Not to be silly...
Start with…
Application Purchasing Venue
Next shorten it to…
AppPurVenu
Finally, throw in something make sure it isn’t associated with that formerly cool company with a fruit name…
BananAppPurVenu
That is a ~no brainer.. The following I hearby, officially decree as my own, “nap store”.. ZZZZzzzzz…
rotten
didn’t these little apple titmouths start using the term “launchpad” although that’s something owned by canonical.
pity canonical are microscopically small and can’t do anything about it.
s.f.k.a.a.s.
store formerly known as app store
App Store renamed to ...
iApp iStore
There, that is much better
App store alternative
How about “Those Worms In The Apple” (TWITA, pronounced TWIT). Oh, wait! Now I will have both Apple and Twitter after me! Woe is me!
Re: App store alternative
Actually with TWIT you’d have Leo Laporte after you. Not Twitter.
Alternatives for App Store
Your Store
iShop
iStore
——–
’nuff said
A few suggestions
Blow Jobs Store.
Crazy Steve.
AppleSource
AppSucks
Download Marketplace
Cycling "App Store" name
I just went and voted for “Applet Store”, and I noticed the tab for Amahi’s store is cycling through the suggested names when the page refreshes. Nice.
Replace the word store
App Commerce
App Distributor
App Warehouse
App Source
App Download Source
App Market
App Depot
App Factory
App Mart
App Shop
App Center
App Boutique
App Bazaar
New name
App Central, App Centre, App Shop, App depot.
Cheers
Rotten Apple
rotten_app_le
They should call it
Cider.
I suggest that they have a survey at a certain area to know what the people think like sports stores.