However, it looks like Apple is using its familiar tactic of relying on a shell company for the filing, as was done in the past with “iPad” and “CarPlay”.
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Now, according to MacRumors, Apple’s trademark for “AirPods” is making its way through the trademark registry.
By now you might have seen some rumors about the next iPhone, presumably called the iPhone 7, not having a headphone jack.
New evidence suggests that Apple is once again hiding behind a shell corporation as it seeks ownership of a new trademark – in this case, for an anticipated product named “AirPods”, which could be the name for a new set of Bluetooth wireless earbuds. An application for “AirPods” was filed in the United States last September by a company called Entertainment in Flight, LLC, based in Delaware.
In a document clarifying some of the broad terms used in the original filing, an Entertainment in Flight manager’s signature was discovered.
The website claims that Apple also has an attorney with the same. As revealed on Brown’s LinkedIn page, the Apple attorney previously worked as “Senior Litigation Counsel” at Rambus.
Note: We’ll be updating this round up as we review more Bluetooth headphones leading up to the launch of the iPhone 7 this fall.
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However, things have become clearer this week when the trademark application was amended and signed by a Jonathan Brown, who per the official document is the manager of Entertainment in Flight LLC. For example, the “iWatch” was trademarked by Apple, though, as we all know, the company branded it as the Apple Watch. As a user, you can either make use of the lightning connector powered EarPods on the bottom or an adapter that automatically converts 3.5mm male plug to a lightning connector. Trademark applications require use of a term before six months have elapsed after the initial award, but this window can be extended for an additional two and a half years with repeated extension requests.
