Letter from Apple States They Do Not License the Term ‘podcast’
Back in October Dave Gray, of TPN’s GlobalGeek podcast, sent a letter and $1 to Apple to pay for using the term "podcast". Apple sent the check back with an answer:
We are returning your check for $1. Apple does not object to third-party usage of the generic term "podcast" to accurately refer to podcasting services. Apple does not license the term "podcast".
A couple of month’s ago podcasters where worried by cease and desist letters sent to various podcast related companies. I was never of the opinion that Apple wanted to (or could) claim "podcast" as a trademark. The hype and worry went to far and wide on that.
Naturally, Apple has to protect the iPod trademark, but that is as far as it goes. By their own admission, "podcast" is a generic term that is already in the public domain. No one can claim it.
My stance is that the term "podcasting" is here to stay. We have nothing to worry about. Maybe it’s a less-than-ideal moniker, but to change to another term now would be silly.
[via gdayworld]
