used. Apple used. It's legally a dead trademark, so Apple is claiming ownership of something they've already abandoned, but enforcing that nobody else can reclaim it, despite being a good name. That's not right, they don't just get to name squat.
replyWhat's legal doesn't matter, it's their store, if they want to claim they own the word Pear too they can do that.
replyI think holding that kind of power over devices people own is problematic, but I seem to be in the minority here.
Amusingly, a bunch of series of teen shows used to use "Pear PC" to get around the trademark issue on all their on screen technology...
reply+1 .. the problem isn't that Apple is denying their app, the problem is the developer decided to submit it to the Apple store.
replyFun fact: this same process is how Vietnam got its name. Their earlier proposal of Nam Viet had fallen out of use, but still couldn't get approval.
replyPerhaps you’re right. Apple's App Store review can be a rough process. Then again, a search of “Inkwell” in the App Store shows plenty of apps that are named “Inkwell”, many of then writing-related.
replyOh I didn't say they'd be consistent. But once it's raised, it's going to be really tough.
replyAgreed. Vanishingly few enforcers have ever said "wait, we let other people do it? Ohhhh go ahead!"
replyMuch more extreme example, I read a court case where the cops were really annoyed the perp told them they should've been enforcing $muchWorseCrime elsewhere. Judge wasn't a fan either.
maybe apple should have changed ipod to avoid confusing it with a pre-existing music device:
replyOr Swift, to avoid confusion with the scripting language Swift - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_(parallel_scripting_lang...
replyOr iPad https://www.bbc.com/news/business-18669394
Etc.
With Apple, being a corporation and not a moral actor, it comes down to “might makes right” when it comes to trademark and other IP laws.