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After a protracted battle against Apple the Beatles' record company over iTunes, Apple the computer and iPod manufacturer is trying to keep others from using the word "pod" on their products. You can't trademark a word in general, but you can trademark a word in regard to a certain industry -- much as Apple the record company owned the name when it came to music and got mad when iTunes launched, Apple the computer company claims to own "pod" when it comes to personal music players.

I find it deeply amusing that Apple the computer manufacturer is on the other side of the issue now. I'm not sure how all the legal wrangling will turn out, but the company apparently does not have an approved trademark for the word "pod," and the argument that "pod" is a common abbreviation for "iPod" is a bit specious (everyone I know gets all long-winded and says the full "iPod"), though obviously the music player's name has been shortened for the term "podcasting."

Also, the relevant definition of "pod" is "a usually protective container or housing," which is consistent with all mp3 players, though that definition typically applies to ships and aircraft.

Robert VerBruggen blogs at http://robertsrationale.blogspot.com.

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