HTC own globale trademark on “Touch” – could have problems with Apple’s iPod Touch

Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) might have another trademark battle on its hands. Apparently, HTC owns a global trademark on the “Touch” name as it applies to handheld devices. And with Apple recently dropping the iPod Touch on us, it’s bound to cause some corporate legal jockeying.

HTC clearly has grounds to go to the courts to work this one out, but it looks like they’re feeling all warm and fuzzy on account of their birthday celebration. HTC is going to try for an amicable resolution to this situation – a la Cisco and their “iPhone” trademark.

Ching-hung Wang (transliterated from Chinese), marketing manager of HTC pointed out that he does not think Apple’s iPod touch was targeting HTC since Apple should put its focus on bigger companies like Google (NSDQ: GOOG), Yahoo and Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). As for whether iPod touch violates HTC’s trademark, Wang pointed out that in the past Apple and Cisco were able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement over the rights to the iPhone trademark, adding that the question surrounding the rights to the Touch trademark would need further observation.

We’re glad HTC decided to play nice with their “Touch” trademark, it’s refreshing to see corporations actually negotiating out of court.

[Via: WMExperts]