Recently, Apple told developer Chris Ostmo that if he wanted his app approved, he had to remove the word “pad” from its name. When he asked why, Steve Jobs replied in an e-mail, “It’s just common sense not to use another company’s trademarks in your app name.”
Despite Job’s assertion, Apple does not actually own a trademark on the word “pad.” It does own trademarks on “iPad” and “MacPAD.”
Ironically, several apps with the phrase “for iPad” in the name have been approved.
