iPad
Apple bans developers from using “Pad” in app names
By Jim DalrympleApril 10, 2010, 1:56 pm PT
If you’re a developer working on an app for the iPad, you might want to pay particular attention to the name.
Apple is apparently not pleased with developers incorporating the word “Pad” in their app names. The company is now rejecting apps using the word in the app name.
Speaking to iPhone Alley, iPad developer GameHouse confirmed that Apple requested they change the name of their “PartyPad – Marble Mixer” iPad app.
The name compliance doesn’t appear to affect apps that indicate the iPad is for the iPad. For example “Scrabble for iPad” would appear to be okay. However, some apps won’t be so lucky.
It seems unclear how some developers will be able to remove the word “Pad” from their apps when it clearly fits what the app is all about. For example, “SketchPad,” “TouchPad,” and “iDrum Pad.”
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10 Responses to “Apple bans developers from using “Pad” in app names”
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Apple bans developers from using “Pad” in app names
By Jim DalrympleApril 10, 2010, 1:56 pm PT
If you’re a developer working on an app for the iPad, you might want to pay particular attention to the name.
Apple is apparently not pleased with developers incorporating the word “Pad” in their app names. The company is now rejecting apps using the word in the app name.
Speaking to iPhone Alley, iPad developer GameHouse confirmed that Apple requested they change the name of their “PartyPad – Marble Mixer” iPad app.
The name compliance doesn’t appear to affect apps that indicate the iPad is for the iPad. For example “Scrabble for iPad” would appear to be okay. However, some apps won’t be so lucky.
It seems unclear how some developers will be able to remove the word “Pad” from their apps when it clearly fits what the app is all about. For example, “SketchPad,” “TouchPad,” and “iDrum Pad.”
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10 Responses to “Apple bans developers from using “Pad” in app names”
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This is where Apple’s control over the App Store becomes problematic. It’s ridiculous for Apple to force these name changes but the developers can’t fight it and have no choice.
This is where Apple's control over the App Store becomes problematic. It's ridiculous for Apple to force these name changes but the developers can't fight it and have no choice.
But this makes perfect sense if you wish to protect the "Pad" moniker from being used by other slate producers for their products and applications.
You have to protect it or you lose control of it. Apple's just being cautious.
Yeah, heaven forbid that developers should actually be creative when naming their products instead of just piggybacking on Apple's trade dress.
I suspect this has something to do with policing Apple's iPad trademark. It may be that they need to take this step to be able to preclude other parties from co-opting the term Pad in this specific trade (as defined by Trademark Law), whether or not they're working with Apple.
They did the same thing with the iPod. It is required by trademark law – and they're going to be extremely protective of it.
Also, Contact Pad got the same notification last week http://www.9to5mac.com/Apple-rejecting-apps-with-...
Apple protecting their company name as well as their product name is understandable but they are going a bit overboard by not allowing the use of the word "pad" in any of the apps.
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It's strange that Apple should try to own the word Pad, given that IBM and later Lenovo used it before them. ThinkPad and WorkPad (IBM-branded Palm Pilot) comes to mind.
Apple is not trying "to own the word Pad." It's rejecting apps seeking publication on its own App Store that use the word in their names. There's a big difference.