3 ms·

Suing over an internal code name (not a marketing name?) Quite a stretch...

thayne 4y ago
But then they refused to acknowledge that he had not endorsed their product and had not received compensation after the name was revealed. While probably not illegal, IMO that was still morally wrong.
- duxup 4y ago
  > and had not received compensation after the name was revealed Not sure anyone is entitled to compensation just because a codename is their name.
  - danachow 4y ago
    He wanted them to officially state that he didn’t receive compensation - that it wasn’t an official endorsement of any kind, compensated or otherwise.
  - Brian_K_White 4y ago
    He didn't want compensation.
IncRnd 4y ago
The name must have been used externally, or Carl Sagan wouldn't have known about it.
- google234123 4y ago
  It got leaked?
  - IncRnd 4y ago
    For Carl Sagan to have learned the internal code name of a computer, it seems likely that the code name was leaked to the outside of Apple. According to the article, this happened in a 1993 issue of MacWeek.
CharlesW 4y ago
From TFA: “When these internal codenames were first revealed in a 1993 issue of MacWeek, Sagan was concerned that the use of his name might be misconstrued as an official endorsement.”
emsign 4y ago
For someone like Carl Sagan his name is his most valuable asset. His reputation was being toyed with without his consent by a much more powerful entitity than him. He used the only defensive that the US is providing to individuals like him, that's the legal system. Apple's reaction confirmed their total disregard for his reputation and thus his source of income. I find it shameful to suggest the weaker opponent the one who has been wronged by a bigger corporation or celebrity should always shut up and leave the more powerful entitity do what they want. I find that disgraceful.
ycombinete 4y ago
Unless there's something missing from the article, Sagan comes out of this looking, to me, like a bit of a BHA
Shorel 4y ago
Then keep it internal. As soon as it was published in an article, it was no longer internal, just a code name.

But then they refused to acknowledge that he had not endorsed their product and had not received compensation after the name was revealed. While probably not illegal, IMO that was still morally wrong.

duxup 4y ago
> and had not received compensation after the name was revealed Not sure anyone is entitled to compensation just because a codename is their name.
- danachow 4y ago
  He wanted them to officially state that he didn’t receive compensation - that it wasn’t an official endorsement of any kind, compensated or otherwise.
- Brian_K_White 4y ago
  He didn't want compensation.

IncRnd 4y ago

The name must have been used externally, or Carl Sagan wouldn't have known about it.

google234123 4y ago
It got leaked?
- IncRnd 4y ago
  For Carl Sagan to have learned the internal code name of a computer, it seems likely that the code name was leaked to the outside of Apple. According to the article, this happened in a 1993 issue of MacWeek.

CharlesW 4y ago

From TFA: “When these internal codenames were first revealed in a 1993 issue of MacWeek, Sagan was concerned that the use of his name might be misconstrued as an official endorsement.”

emsign 4y ago

For someone like Carl Sagan his name is his most valuable asset. His reputation was being toyed with without his consent by a much more powerful entitity than him. He used the only defensive that the US is providing to individuals like him, that's the legal system. Apple's reaction confirmed their total disregard for his reputation and thus his source of income. I find it shameful to suggest the weaker opponent the one who has been wronged by a bigger corporation or celebrity should always shut up and leave the more powerful entitity do what they want. I find that disgraceful.

ycombinete 4y ago

Unless there's something missing from the article, Sagan comes out of this looking, to me, like a bit of a BHA

Shorel 4y ago

Then keep it internal. As soon as it was published in an article, it was no longer internal, just a code name.