MacNN’s Senior Patent Editor Jack Purcher has recently discovered a European Trademark Database document that revealed Apple’s original trademark application for Time Machine in late 2000. The document presents us with one of the hokiest Apple trademark graphic designs on record: Ouch! It certainly proves that even Apple’s design department could fall from grace from time to time. Thankfully, Steve Jobs must have stepped in to kill this graphic which in itself looks like it came from a time machine dating back to the sixty’s, man . Interestingly the trademark was filed under International Classification 042 relating to computer programming, along with class 009 which is fully detailed below. Apple may have had another purpose in mind at the time for this trademark. The atrocious design is presented below.

International Classification 009 as Described in Apple’s Original Trademark Application:

Scientific, nautical, surveying, electric, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signaling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; computer software (included in this class), data processing equipment and computers; electronic software (included in this class), data processing equipment and computers; electronic steering apparatus and software (included in this class) for steering, changing and coordination of sound- and video-sound recording carriers.

Apple’s trademark application 748967 was filed in London by Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP in December 2000.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents and/or trademarks with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent and/or trademark applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.

Note: The European trademark office referred to in this report is officially known as the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market .