ModMyiPhone name change

ModMyiFone.com, formerly ModMyiPhone.com, this week announced a change in its name and website URL, due to legal pressure from Apple. Although the summary posted in its forums indicate that Apple does not believe ModMyiFone.com is intentionally trying to confuse anyone by using the term iPhone in its name, Apple is still requiring the site to comply with its demands so that customers are not under the impression that ModMyiFone.com is affiliated with the electronics manufacturer.

The dispute revolves mainly around the usage of the term "iPhone", but Townsend and Townsend and Crew – Apple's legal representatives – claim that the enthusiast site must "cease and desist" from using any product photography or intellectual property related to Apple Inc., including its famous logo. Also, the site is required to take away its "iPhone Topsites" section, despite the content being beyond ModMyiFone.com's control, since many of the links contained Apple logos or other forbidden items.

Apple is notoriously protective of its brands and intellectual properties, having previously gone so far as to trademark the word "pod". The company is not shy about confronting entities with such disputes, even when dealing with local, unincorporated businesses.

by MacNN Staff