[CaptainHaddock]

It looks like the next version of iWork could include Pages, Keynote, and "Numbers".

http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...7&from=rss

[Jonesy]

Let's hope they are still looking at all the bugs in Pages as well. I use iWork and most of the time I do like it but there are a few problems with Pages and a few features I would like to see added. I would be more interested in a fully functioning Word Processor than a Spreadsheet.

For example try leaving a Pages document open for a while then coming back to it. It becomes quite unresponsive with an awful lag after key presses. The program seems to be using twice the memory it used when the document was opened. The only cure is to quit and reopen (By the way I have submitted reports to Apple).

It is because of issues like this that iWork is not selling as well as it could. If positive feedback was coming from forums like this then more people would look to iWork as a real alternative to Office.

[Mediaman_12]

how on earth can you trademark a generic word like 'Numbers'.

[krove]

How can companies patent gene sequences (biotech)? or XML schema (MS)?

It's the system...

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

how on earth can you trademark a generic word like 'Numbers'.

Or Apple?

Or Word?

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

how on earth can you trademark a generic word like 'Numbers'.

You can trademark generic words all you want as long as you don't trademark them for a product that they describe. You can trademark "Apple" for a computer company for example, but not for an apple. You can trademark "Car" for an apple, but not for a car.

[saddino]

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

how on earth can you trademark a generic word like 'Numbers'.

Walk into your local supermarket and take a look at: Scope, Tide, Dawn, Crest, etc. All good Trademarks. All generic words.

The key is: as long as the term is not descriptive or generic in the market you are claiming trade mark protection (and not in use by someone else, or confusingly similar to a competitor's mark), then you are likely (if the USPTO agrees) in the clear.

Scope is a great trademark for mouthwash. It is a lousy (read: USPTO would probably not grant) trademark for a telescope.

"Numbers" could be argued to be descriptive, but the USPTO apparently doesn't think so.

Edit: Tetenal got there before me. Curse my slow typing.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

how on earth can you trademark a generic word like 'Numbers'.

Obviously, Apple has invented numbers. Anyone else using numbers is obviously jealous of Apple's creativity.

[Krusty]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

Obviously, Apple has invented numbers. Anyone else using numbers is obviously jealous of Apple's creativity.

How can't they patent "Numbers" ? It's very much in line with their other software: Pages, Preview, Mail, Address Book, Calculator etc. Apple is the king of minimalist, generic sounding software titles. I can't wait until 2008 when all new machines start shipping with "Operating System ™"

[ShotgunEd]

Did they patent 'mail'? As far as i can make out, it is descriptive of an e-mail program.

Silly patents.

[buggsuperstar]

Apple should patent "Patent".

[saddino]

Originally Posted by ShotgunEd

Did they patent 'mail'? As far as i can make out, it is descriptive of an e-mail program.

Silly patents.

Patents != Trademark != Copyright

You cannot "patent" a word. You can however, register a trademark for a product or service name.

And no, Apple has not applied for a trademark for "Mail" because, as you note, it is clearly descriptive.

Trademark applicaitons are published by the USPTO at uspto.gov (which is how "Numbers" was discovered. If you really want to know what trademarks are out there, you can search there.