It seems like Apple has been very careful with the details of the launch of its tablet, but made a mistake of beginners: They did not check whether the name iPad was already registered.

Indeed, the brand not only registered, but Fujitsu, who owns it, has a tablet device that receives the same name, according to the Trademark Registry and U.S. Patent. It is a device a little bigger than a mobile phone; it includes a touch screen and runs under Windows. It is designed for stores and business managers with the aim of controling inventories and movements of goods, access prices, read barcodes, and so on.

This  is not the first time in Cupertino that something similar happens. Following the launch of its famed iPhone, Apple had to battle with Cisco for the name. Apple Inc claimed that this name had previously been registered in Trinidad and Tobago but in the end, after a financial settlement, they kept the name.

Fujitsu claims to have been using the trademark iPad since 2002 in relation to its mobile computing products for the retail sector. Japan’s attorneys are considering whether or not to go to court.

Watch this space

Michael Gomez