Thursday, May 22nd 2008

Apple and CBS Sued Over Mighty Mouse Name

Man & Machine, a Landover, Md., maker of medical keyboards and computer peripherals, said on Tuesday it has filed a trademark-infringement lawsuit against Apple and CBS over the Mighty Mouse name. The company says that it has been selling its Mighty Mouse, "a waterproof optical mouse for medical, industrial, and marine applications," since March 2004. Apple began selling its wired and wireless Mighty Mouse for MAC PCs in August 2005. "This action arises from Apple's use and proposed continued use of the trademark 'Mighty Mouse' in violation of M&M's rights in its own 'Mighty Mouse' trademark," the complaint states. "Apple's use of the 'Mighty Mouse' trademark takes place under color of an agreement with CBS purporting to license such use." M&M is seeking undisclosed damages and a court order preventing Apple from using the name Mighty Mouse for its mice.
Source: InformationWeek
Add your own comment

15 Comments on Apple and CBS Sued Over Mighty Mouse Name

#1
jbunch07
wasn't mighty mouse a cartoon from the 40's

anyway...i guess M&M not asking for any money...if all they want them to do is just stop using the name im sure they can think of another name.
Posted on Reply
#2
mdm-adph
jbunch07wasn't mighty mouse a cartoon from the 40's
Yeah, CBS owns the trademark, believe it or not.

Though, I do hope Apple changes, the name -- always thought "Mighty Mouse" was a kinda silly choice.

Though, did M&M license the name from CBS? Cause it seems to me like they could be in a little trouble of their own, though it could be argued that since CBS has never pursued action against them that their use is legit.
Posted on Reply
#3
pt
not a suicide-bomber
apple is silly, what are u expecting when they called it "mighty mouse"? lol
Posted on Reply
#4
Dangle
Apple's mighty mouse is anything but mighty. You can't right click unless you lift your finger off the left side of the mouse, and you can't scroll diagonally. Functionality > Looks (and it doesn't even look that great).
Posted on Reply
#5
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
This could be interesting.
Both M&M and CBS have trademark listings for a computer mouse using the "Mighty Mouse" name.
M&M's had first use and went into commerce in 2004, CBS's first use and went into commerce are both in 2005.
Posted on Reply
#6
thoughtdisorder
KreijThis could be interesting.
Both M&M and CBS have trademark listings for a computer mouse using the "Mighty Mouse" name.
M&M's had first use and went into commerce in 2004, CBS's first use and went into commerce are both in 2005.
I'm no lawyer, but if M&M's began commerce in 2004, and CBS's first use was in 2005, wouldn't it be a "slam dunk" for M&M to win? :confused:
Posted on Reply
#7
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
Depending on what Mighty Mouse is being used for. This seems like a legit claim though.
Posted on Reply
#8
Rebo&Zooty
um, apple=form over function.....alwase has in my experiance.
Posted on Reply
#9
Wile E
Power User
DangleApple's mighty mouse is anything but mighty. You can't right click unless you lift your finger off the left side of the mouse, and you can't scroll diagonally.
Completely false. You can do both of those.
Posted on Reply
#10
Rebo&Zooty
Wile ECompletely false. You can do both of those.
u got a mighty mouse?

as to the other apple mouse the touch sencitive ones, i have seen that some revisions DO NOT ALLOW the use of both mouse"buttons" at once, it annoys the hell out of mac users who play wow because pc users got a normal mouse and can use it to walk and control the whole game without ever having to touch the keyboard( keyboard in many cases is more efficent but if u got a samich in 1 hand and mouse in other u got no spair hand for keyboard)

i haven had a mighty mouse and the mac/apple mice i have seen, really dont impress me at all, i will stick to my old skool machanical buttons/wheel at least i know they will "just work" as aposed to touch/heat sencitive crap that may or may not work depending on hand temp.
Posted on Reply
#11
Wile E
Power User
Rebo&Zootyu got a mighty mouse?

as to the other apple mouse the touch sencitive ones, i have seen that some revisions DO NOT ALLOW the use of both mouse"buttons" at once, it annoys the hell out of mac users who play wow because pc users got a normal mouse and can use it to walk and control the whole game without ever having to touch the keyboard( keyboard in many cases is more efficent but if u got a samich in 1 hand and mouse in other u got no spair hand for keyboard)

i haven had a mighty mouse and the mac/apple mice i have seen, really dont impress me at all, i will stick to my old skool machanical buttons/wheel at least i know they will "just work" as aposed to touch/heat sencitive crap that may or may not work depending on hand temp.
Yes, I have a Mighty Mouse. Have had both the original (which came with my iMac), and more recently the newest revision (original died, received new one as replacement). Both allow right click with your finger on the left button, and both scroll diagonally.

Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly like the Might Mouse. There are much, MUCH better mice out there. Just trying to stop the misinformation being spread.
Posted on Reply
#12
Rebo&Zooty
Wile EYes, I have a Mighty Mouse. Have had both the original (which came with my iMac), and more recently the newest revision (original died, received new one as replacement). Both allow right click with your finger on the left button, and both scroll diagonally.

Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly like the Might Mouse. There are much, MUCH better mice out there. Just trying to stop the misinformation being spread.
ah ok, yeah, somebody i know gave me a mac mouse to try after he replaced it(due to it sucking thanks to being temp based, also didnt let u use both butons at once and some apps he used needed that)

it was bad, i mean fine for web browsing but.....well it was far from a shining example of good design, but oh man its pretty, should have kept it and given it to my mother :P

gime a good logitec or microsoft mouse from the same price range and i will show you a FAR better mouse :)
Posted on Reply
#13
Wile E
Power User
Rebo&Zootyah ok, yeah, somebody i know gave me a mac mouse to try after he replaced it(due to it sucking thanks to being temp based, also didnt let u use both butons at once and some apps he used needed that)

it was bad, i mean fine for web browsing but.....well it was far from a shining example of good design, but oh man its pretty, should have kept it and given it to my mother :P

gime a good logitec or microsoft mouse from the same price range and i will show you a FAR better mouse :)
Question, did you use the MM on Windows?
Posted on Reply
#14
beyond_amusia
It'll just be re-dubbed an iMouse and it'll get a viral ad campain... lmao.
Posted on Reply
#15
Rebo&Zooty
Wile EQuestion, did you use the MM on Windows?
duno if it was a mighty mouse, it was just one of the ones like u can buy at bestbuy, and i tested it on windows, linux, bsd and even messed with it on his ibook, some revisions of the mouse(im guessing earlyer pcb's or certen pcb revisions, likely made to be cheaper are at fault)

he wanted me to try it because we joked about apples mice for years, 1 button, or the best ones, 1 button and look like a jelly covered doughnut(orignal imac mice)

he only got the ibook and mac because his inlaws bought them as gifts for him and his gf, the guy at the store convenced them to get the mac over windows pc dispite price diffrance, and, well unless u r an asshole you dont diss a gift(well unless the giver makes jokes about it first :P )
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
Jan 29th, 2025 09:47 EST change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts