Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile demands Engadget Mobile discontinue using the color magenta
Granted, we get nastygrams from angry tech companies practically every day, but rarely regarding anything that's not some piece of news we published that they're livid about having out in the open. And irony of ironies, this whole use-of-magenta thing is precisely the topic we took up last year on behalf of DT.
We spoke with David Beigie, vice president of corporate communications for T-Mobile US, who offered: "As a trademark owner, from time to time Deutsche Telekom looks at usage that could lead to confusion in the marketplace. The letter sent by DT merely outlines these perspectives and is meant to simply open a dialogue. Engadget continues to pioneer forums for discussion of wireless industry developments and innovation. T-Mobile respects the role Engadget and its readers play in advancing dialog on these important topics."
So in the interest of that open dialog we've posted Deutsche Telekom's letter below, as well as a handy guide to allay any confusion should you suddenly find yourself disoriented and trying to buy your next SideKick or MDA from Engadget Mobile.
P.S. -Not an early April Fool's joke.
Update: We went magenta! More here.
| Deutsche Telekom | Engadget Mobile |
|
|---|---|---|
| Cellphone carrier | Yep | No |
| Distributor of telecom equipment | Yep | No |
| Likely to be mistaken for T-Mobile / Deutsch Telekom | We certainly hope so |
No |
| Former state-owned monopoly | Yep | No |
| Has something against US 3G | Apparently | No |
| Has more than five friends | Might not anymore |
Yep |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 2:27PM
Priceless.....
Darkroom @ Mar 31st 2008 2:29PM
this is awesome! made my afternoon!
C @ Mar 31st 2008 2:32PM
Gee... Does that mean they own the Pink Panther too?
God knows which idiot allow that patent to go through.
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 2:34PM
I am in trouble, too?
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 2:34PM
<div style="color: #ff00ff">I am in trouble, too?</div>
JJV @ Mar 31st 2008 2:40PM
You guys should so screw them over and not publish anything about T-Mobile. BOYCOTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....maybe?
Blaine Oliver @ Mar 31st 2008 2:52PM
Next thing you know apple will patent white and sue everyone in spain :O
Peter F @ Mar 31st 2008 2:55PM
Hmm, interesting, white is all colors, so they could sue everyone that's using something other than black?
superfresh @ Mar 31st 2008 2:57PM
You've got a series of squares, the color magenta, and the word Mobile. All your missing is the T. I think with the right amount of drive and money, they could make things difficult for you Engadget. Not that I agree. Just sayin'.
OneLove @ Mar 31st 2008 3:08PM
THATS DAVID BEIGE!
OneLove @ Mar 31st 2008 3:10PM
...AND DOUCHE TELEKOM.
nh @ Mar 31st 2008 3:10PM
Trademark law is f*cked. I mean, isn't this just something they *have* to do in order to keep the trademark? If they don't defend it, it counts against them in FUTURE cases. They can actually lose it and other actual Telecoms companies will legally be allowed to start using it.
IANAL but I've heard of this thing quite a lot, and it never goes to court.
I'm more pissed at Barclays for trying to trademark the phrase 'Hole in the wall' for ATMs, when they stole the bloody phrase from the people in the first place.
Ignatius @ Mar 31st 2008 3:20PM
If anything, Engadget Mobile should just reply with a link to their webpage, redesigned with EVERYTHING as magenta as possible.
Nothing better than giving retarded corporations the finger.
Jamma @ Mar 31st 2008 3:23PM
Just watch......... next AT&T will sue engadget mobile & you guys an for your blue coloured curves soon!!
TedB @ Mar 31st 2008 3:38PM
Just use my trick.. tell them you are colorblind and then threaten to sue them for not respecting a documented disability...
anonymouspimp @ Mar 31st 2008 3:39PM
@ C -- Who said anything about a patent? Do you have any idea what you are talking about? lol
Anyways... this is pretty ridiculous since I would be shocked if even the most clueless soccer mom in the world confused a tech blog with T-mobile.
I would tell them to go shove it. What are they going to do? Sue you? Like they are going to spend a million dollars to file a lawsuit and litigate this...? It's got to be some bored in house T-mobile attorneys flexing their corporate muscles. What a dumb fight to pick tho...
They should spend their money improving the sidekick (the thing has barely changed in 3 generations) rather than serving tech blogs threatening letters.
Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Mar 31st 2008 4:18PM
What a PR disaster indeed. This is a perfect example of poor inter-departmental collaboration in a monolithic organization. If the legal division had consulted the marketing division, they would have realized this is a net loss for the company. Engadget that provides a source of free advertising vis a vis all of the press release information about new T-Mobile stuff that Engadget posts.
Besides, very few corporations stick with the same logo and colours forever.
Dave @ Mar 31st 2008 4:35PM
Time to pull out the AOL Time Warner lawyers! I guess being owned by a megacorp is going to help you out for once Engadget! Fight it to the end.
i.c. weiner @ Mar 31st 2008 4:38PM
does that mean t-mobile is going to kill all the flamingos in the world?
Tyler @ Mar 31st 2008 4:41PM
haha replying to Shakespeares Right saying
"When is someone gonna sue over...you know...black colored words..."
The answer? As sooon as I trademark it lol along with green, blue, yellow, white, red and any color in between.
jonathan @ Mar 31st 2008 4:51PM
Now every site I design will have that specific colour of magenta.
Blaktornado @ Mar 31st 2008 4:45PM
MAGEEEEENNNTAAAAAAAA!!!
holycow @ Mar 31st 2008 4:49PM
haha guess what colour BBC's front page is ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Kamokazi @ Mar 31st 2008 5:32PM
I think you should cave and change the logo. I have a suggestion:
http://www.destinysflame.com/kamo/engmob.jpg
PeterF @ Mar 31st 2008 6:28PM
OMG! IMPOSTER! I AM THE ONLY PETER F!
Nando @ Mar 31st 2008 7:03PM
Dumbass move, T-Mobile. boohooforyou!
keija @ Mar 31st 2008 7:17PM
ridicolous,
but not offensive .. i think they didn't mean to make engadget readers theire enemies with this "letter". they are appreceating engadgets impact and are nicely approaching this topic. plus, i think it has more "ground" than some apple "lawsuits" ..
Cycomachead @ Mar 31st 2008 7:41PM
yeah - stupid
I really hope Engadget wins! Besides, IMO, if the connection between t-mo and and engadget mobile was sooooo obvious (which it isn't!) then wouldn't it be free advertising on one of the most respected and most well read cell phones?
well using the picture provided, the 'purples' aren't even the same! What is the definition of a particular color anyway and who says so?
But I hope the best for you guys. Don't waste too much money and boycott T-MO (Don't use the word sidekick) and that'll be even easier considering the recent Starbucks ATT agreement.
jt1976 @ Apr 1st 2008 1:34PM
They've done this before. Take a look at Intel's first Centrino logo when it launched a few years ago, vs. the color of the logo now. They had to pull back all of their advertising for launching the product, change the color of the logos, and re-launch.
low tech @ Apr 1st 2008 9:55PM
@ nh
"IANAL"? I'd rather not...
*looks up acronym on urbandictionary*
Matthew C @ Apr 7th 2008 12:58AM
Make everything- I mean everything in Engadget Mobil Magenta- just for like a week though
Frun @ Mar 31st 2008 2:29PM
What a bunch of Deutsche bags
TheDude @ Mar 31st 2008 2:35PM
nice... Tell them to suck it.
Las Den Quatsch!
Ryan Block @ Mar 31st 2008 2:37PM
All other Engadget commenters take note: this may be the funniest comment of 2008 thus far.
David Vogt @ Mar 31st 2008 2:37PM
Well, that's pretty offensive.
Neebs @ Mar 31st 2008 2:40PM
I agree with Ryan
Najakwa @ Mar 31st 2008 2:53PM
i seriously hope this is a deutsche bag april fools joke that mistakenly got sent too early. Magenta text for all future T-Mobile Stories!!!
JJV @ Mar 31st 2008 2:56PM
how bout no future t-mobile stories? they deserve whats coming to them. NOBODY SCREWS AROUND WITH ENGADGET(MOBILE,HD etc...)
Eric M. @ Mar 31st 2008 3:05PM
Hehe, made my day..
holycow @ Mar 31st 2008 3:22PM
LOL!
btw i dont think of T-Mobile when i see the colour magenta.. that line that they have in the letter is just plain stupid!
patsy @ Mar 31st 2008 3:25PM
Eh, more like a slightly amusing pun than "the funniest comment of 2008", especially considering the stretch to get from "doich-eh" to "doosh", but hey.
mmendoza27 @ Mar 31st 2008 3:51PM
This comment is sooo full of win!! I agree with Ryan, I was rolling on the floor here at work.
Sam @ Mar 31st 2008 3:54PM
Congratulations, you have won one (1) Internet. Please pick it up at your earliest convenience.
Reader @ Mar 31st 2008 3:57PM
Does he get an official award?
CUBSWILLWIN @ Mar 31st 2008 3:57PM
ryan, you better give him an award! Screw Tmo. I was considering to switch to them from sprint but if they a mobile carrier does anything to one of the 3 engadgets, that crosses the line. Screw the deutsche bags!!!
Eddie @ Mar 31st 2008 4:08PM
Amazing hahaha. I completely agree Ryan.
phanbouy @ Mar 31st 2008 4:13PM
girls just wanna have Frun
nonstatic @ Mar 31st 2008 11:10PM
many american expatriates refer to their new country as "doucheland." i like that better.
Frun @ Mar 31st 2008 4:16PM
Ohhh I cant wait to see what I won. Maybe an actual douche bag, with the "e" logo?
.
.
ummmm second thought, an acrylic award would be better displayed on my desk.
RichardBronosky @ Mar 31st 2008 4:42PM
How 'bout some stinking permalinks? It would be nice not to have to view source to find the div id to manually create a URI for Instant Messaging to friends. (Like http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/31/deutsche-telekom-t-mobile-demands-engadget-mobile-discontinue/#c11362887 ) It can only benefit Engadget in terms of driving traffic.
Sorry the links the "comment page" don't work because it removes the comment from its context thus removing the humor.