Apple files for 'iWatch' trademark

Apple has filed for ownership of the "iWatch" trademark in Japan, suggesting that the company could be preparing either to introduce a wearable technology or a product relating to the TV business.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the application was made there on 3 June, and made public on 27 June.

Izvestia reported that it applied for the same trademark in Russia in June. However, it does not appear to have registered the name in Europe, where an Italian company owns the trademark.

Registering a trademark is usually an essential step made ahead of the launch of a product in order to prevent rivals from registering the same name and creating an embarrassing and costly legal clash. The name of Apple's iPod was first discovered from trademark filings ahead of its launch in October 2001 – though it trampled over Cisco's "iPhone" trademark in 2007 when it launched its phone that January. The two companies later came to an agreement.

There have been rising expectations – after a growing hiatus since October, during which it has not released any new devices – that Apple will introduce either a watch-style device or some form of TV-compatible device.

The idea of an iWatch that would offer a wearable system able to connect to a smartphone has raised interest, with a number of media outlets saying the company has a huge team of engineers working on such a product.


/The Guardian/