6 ms·

Meta had a product previously called Threads, there's lots of companies called Apple. They are billed as a slack replacement and not a twitter replacement. I'm

Meta had a product previously called Threads, there's lots of companies called Apple. They are billed as a slack replacement and not a twitter replacement. I'm not seeing the issue.

gtirloni 3y ago
Both are in the communications area. Does the trademark office differentiates between slack-replacement and twitter-replacement?
- ZiiS 3y ago
  If your laywers have FB amounts of money they do.
- pan69 3y ago
  > Does the trademark office differentiates between slack-replacement and twitter-replacement Because they both operate in the replacement space?
  - dizhn 3y ago
    "communications" is in the comment.
- PaulHoule 3y ago
  There are just 45 trademark classes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Nice)_Classification_of_Goods_and_Services https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Nice)_Classific... I think these are both in class 38 “Telecommunications”
  - electricmonk 3y ago
    IANYL, but the registration by Threads for THREADS is in Class 42: "Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring computer software platforms for use in project management and collaboration for the technology and media industries that allows organizations and users to create, upload, share, discuss, store, and search content meant for users of the platform; none of the foregoing specifically targeting decision support among healthcare professionals and facilities"
- electricmonk 3y ago
  IANYL, but in general, it depends. See the trademark registration owned by Threads for THREADS, here: https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87522273&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87522273&caseType=SERIAL_... The services the registration covers (in Class 42) are: "Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring computer software platforms for use in project management and collaboration for the technology and media industries that allows organizations and users to create, upload, share, discuss, store, and search content meant for users of the platform; none of the foregoing specifically targeting decision support among healthcare professionals and facilities"
airstrike 3y ago
There aren't a lot of technology companies called Apple. Trademarks are related to the business. IANAL but it seems like Threads.com has a real case here
- throwoutway 3y ago
  Perhaps Meta's attorneys will do the 'nice' thing and pay to license the name from them. Apple paid Cisco millions for the right to use the name iOS/iPhone, and Cisco retained the right to continue to use the trademark.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- acomjean 3y ago
  Apple records (Apple corp) had an issue back in the early apple computer days. Then when Apple released its itunes store, Apple records really had an issue, but there was some litigation and they settled.. "The settlement includes terms that are confidential, although newspaper accounts at the time stated that Apple Computer was buying out Apple Corps' trademark rights for a total of $500 million." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v_Apple_Computer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v_Apple_Computer
tredre3 3y ago
Threads.com is a collaborative chat platform where people form groups, exchange content, and chat. Threads.net is a social media network where people use hashtags, exchange content, and chat. Do you really not see the similarity and how it could be an issue?
- justinator 3y ago
  >Threads.net is a social media network where people use hashtags A hash character I guess can be used but they don't do anything.
  - ZiiS 3y ago
    They will.
    - justinator 3y ago
      Like how URLs work in Instagram posts?
      - ZiiS 3y ago
        Helping people leave your App isn't the the top of most product manager's goals; even without the managment nightmare. Utilising inherent network effects to aid discovery within your app is the top of most product manager's goals.
        justinator 3y ago
        Not allowing URLs is neglecting one of the fundamental pieces of the World Wide Web, no matter what product manager's goal is to line is swimming pool with gold.
        justinator 3y ago
        >even without the managment nightmare Works in Threads. Works in Facebook. Works in WhatsApp. In fact, can you think of any other Meta property where links don't work, excluding Instagram? I think the, "managment nightmare" is a boogeyman.
paxys 3y ago
Yeah, if anything Meta could countersue threads.com for infringing on their copyright. The original Threads app launched years ago.
testplzignore 3y ago
I don't see how this is any different than a product named "Websites" or "Blogs" or "Comments". It's like a genericized trademark, except there was no trademark to begin with. There should be no trademark protection for companies which use existing words as their name, especially if the word describes their business. "Slack" as a software name is borderline; "Slacks" as a name of a clothing company is crazy.
- airstrike 3y ago
  This is being heavily downvoted but it raises a very valid point. Again IANAL but in my vague recollection from dealing with this years ago, if "thread" is such a commonplace word in describing message boards, then it is not protected in the same way that, say, "Twitter" is. It would be like trying to argue only my bakery can use the word "cake"
chrismcb 3y ago
Exactly how many companies called "Apple"do you know? And how many of them do business related to computers?

Meta had a product previously called Threads, there's lots of companies called Apple. They are billed as a slack replacement and not a twitter replacement. I'm not seeing the issue.

gtirloni 3y ago

Both are in the communications area. Does the trademark office differentiates between slack-replacement and twitter-replacement?

ZiiS 3y ago
If your laywers have FB amounts of money they do.
pan69 3y ago
> Does the trademark office differentiates between slack-replacement and twitter-replacement Because they both operate in the replacement space?
- dizhn 3y ago
  "communications" is in the comment.
PaulHoule 3y ago
There are just 45 trademark classes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Nice)_Classification_of_Goods_and_Services https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Nice)_Classific... I think these are both in class 38 “Telecommunications”
- electricmonk 3y ago
  IANYL, but the registration by Threads for THREADS is in Class 42: "Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring computer software platforms for use in project management and collaboration for the technology and media industries that allows organizations and users to create, upload, share, discuss, store, and search content meant for users of the platform; none of the foregoing specifically targeting decision support among healthcare professionals and facilities"
electricmonk 3y ago
IANYL, but in general, it depends. See the trademark registration owned by Threads for THREADS, here: https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87522273&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87522273&caseType=SERIAL_... The services the registration covers (in Class 42) are: "Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring computer software platforms for use in project management and collaboration for the technology and media industries that allows organizations and users to create, upload, share, discuss, store, and search content meant for users of the platform; none of the foregoing specifically targeting decision support among healthcare professionals and facilities"

airstrike 3y ago

There aren't a lot of technology companies called Apple. Trademarks are related to the business. IANAL but it seems like Threads.com has a real case here

throwoutway 3y ago
Perhaps Meta's attorneys will do the 'nice' thing and pay to license the name from them. Apple paid Cisco millions for the right to use the name iOS/iPhone, and Cisco retained the right to continue to use the trademark.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
acomjean 3y ago
Apple records (Apple corp) had an issue back in the early apple computer days. Then when Apple released its itunes store, Apple records really had an issue, but there was some litigation and they settled.. "The settlement includes terms that are confidential, although newspaper accounts at the time stated that Apple Computer was buying out Apple Corps' trademark rights for a total of $500 million." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v_Apple_Computer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v_Apple_Computer

tredre3 3y ago

Threads.com is a collaborative chat platform where people form groups, exchange content, and chat. Threads.net is a social media network where people use hashtags, exchange content, and chat. Do you really not see the similarity and how it could be an issue?

justinator 3y ago
>Threads.net is a social media network where people use hashtags A hash character I guess can be used but they don't do anything.
- ZiiS 3y ago
  They will.
  - justinator 3y ago
    Like how URLs work in Instagram posts?
    - ZiiS 3y ago
      Helping people leave your App isn't the the top of most product manager's goals; even without the managment nightmare. Utilising inherent network effects to aid discovery within your app is the top of most product manager's goals.
      - justinator 3y ago
        Not allowing URLs is neglecting one of the fundamental pieces of the World Wide Web, no matter what product manager's goal is to line is swimming pool with gold.
      - justinator 3y ago
        >even without the managment nightmare Works in Threads. Works in Facebook. Works in WhatsApp. In fact, can you think of any other Meta property where links don't work, excluding Instagram? I think the, "managment nightmare" is a boogeyman.

paxys 3y ago

Yeah, if anything Meta could countersue threads.com for infringing on their copyright. The original Threads app launched years ago.

testplzignore 3y ago

I don't see how this is any different than a product named "Websites" or "Blogs" or "Comments". It's like a genericized trademark, except there was no trademark to begin with. There should be no trademark protection for companies which use existing words as their name, especially if the word describes their business. "Slack" as a software name is borderline; "Slacks" as a name of a clothing company is crazy.

airstrike 3y ago
This is being heavily downvoted but it raises a very valid point. Again IANAL but in my vague recollection from dealing with this years ago, if "thread" is such a commonplace word in describing message boards, then it is not protected in the same way that, say, "Twitter" is. It would be like trying to argue only my bakery can use the word "cake"

chrismcb 3y ago

Exactly how many companies called "Apple"do you know? And how many of them do business related to computers?