Callistonian.net

Apple Inc. is so mean; Apple Inc. is self-important; Apple Inc. thinks its customers are stupid. How can I say such things about the company who brought the world the iPod and the iMac? Easily, because Apple Inc. opposes an NYC-based non-profit organization’s usage of an apple in its logo.

As you can see, the GreeNYC logo (right) looks nothing like Apple Inc.’s logo (left). Regardless, Apple drew up a fancy Consolidated Notice of Opposition and whined about GreeNYC. “[Their logo] so closely resembles [ours] that [their mark] is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception in the minds of consumers.”¹ STFU. No, it’s not! The marks look nothing alike! They’re different colors! Please, get over yourself! Your intellectual property rights do not include the right to ban others from drawing apples! You pompous lawyers need to take your bums back to law school! Also, invest in a conscience! =P

Since Apple is up in arms about its precious intellectual property, I thought that I should warn everyone about some of their IP policies.² If you don’t follow these rules, you may find your inbox full of nasty threats from dearest Apple.

You may not use or imitate an Apple slogan or tagline. For example: “Think different.”

Don’t use those two words together. Well, to be safe—we see how far they’re taking this apple picture thing—don’t use the words think or different, at all. Don’t even hint at being innovative.

As adjectives, trademarks may not be used in the plural or possessive form. Correct: I bought two Macintosh computers. Not Correct: I bought two Macintoshes.

What about, “I bought an Apple!”? Oh wait—no, that’s not allowed. See:

Trademarks are adjectives used to modify nouns; the noun is the generic name of a product or service.

Even if you wish to sell apple trees under the name Appletree, you’d best forget it. They’ll engage in battle with your lawyers if you use an apple as your logo, or if you for register weonlysellappletrees.com. With no logo and no website, you’d have no hope. :(

You may not use an image of a real apple or other variation of the Apple logo for any purpose. Third parties cannot use a variation, phonetic equivalent, foreign language equivalent, takeoff, or abbreviation of an Apple trademark for any purpose. For example: Not acceptable: Appletree Jackintosh Apple Cart PodMart

Look! Appletree is listed as something that cannot be used for any purpose.

In conclusion, because I’m feeling rather anti-Apple, look at this iPhone-killer, the CYON Viewty. It’s the most beautiful phone I’ve ever seen. Min Hyorin even made a music video for it. The video is sweet.

¹ Apple’s Notice of Opposition
² Apple’s Copyright and Trademark Guidelines

Even with my walk, I’m giving you hints
I’m not immodest
(Don’t Stop!) I’m not a child
°C-ute’s Tokaikko Junjou

I am not prudish but, seriously, °C-ute’s cover is a bit much. Isn’t it far more sexy than it is cute? The group’s name is °C-ute, so they should stick to being cute. When they get a bit older, they can change their name to °S-exy and sing things like, “Don’t stop! I’m not a child,” but until then they should avoid such inappropriateness.

You may think I’ve lost it, and that I’m really going too far when I label the cover inappropriate. They’re not showing any clevage; their expressions aren’t exceedingly sultry; they don’t have on a lot of makeup.

A combination of things (their ages, their clothes/makeup/poses, and their fanbase), not one thing, leads me to believe that this cover is inappropriate. The second girl from the left, the one rocking the lovely golden peep-toe heels, turned TWELVE last month. The others are a bit older, but they’re all under 17. What are pre-teens going to think, when they look at their role models and see them dressed like this?

Honestly, I don’t know if this group has a lot of young girl fans. They must have some fans their age and younger, but it’s hard to spot them at °C-ute events. What’s easy to spot? The hordes of older men.  Watch the first few seconds of this video and look at the crowd.

Their latest cover seems to discourage younger fans and  to encourage older men to join the already existent mob of older men fans. For various reasons, I’m not entirely comfortable with the group going more in that direction.

What do you think? Is the cover inappropriate?