U.S. authorities have rejected a trademark application filed for a smaller version of Apple's popular tablet computer, the iPad "iPad Mini." The name "iPad mini" has no "unique" meaning and has not been approved as a trademark. The letter was issued in January but was only recently published. It states that the three parts of the "Mini, Eye and Pad" applied for the trademark are descriptive and none of them, individually or collectively, express any new meaning associated with the device.
However, Apple still has until July to grant the patent office the right to use the trademark, which proves the importance of the phrase.
Apple is very aware of patents and trademarks. The U.S. technology maker is currently embroiled in a number of patent battles with competing companies. Legal proceedings are underway against Korean Samsung over iPhone / iPad design and software patents in various countries around the world. Last year, Apple won a huge patent lawsuit between the two companies in the United States, and the court fined Samsung ১ 1 billion.
However, another recent court decision reduced Samsung's fine by about 40 percent. Judge Luchi Ko said there was some error in determining the compensation when the verdict was announced for the first time.