Engadget logo now a thrilla in Manila

Even though your company might be based in Croatia, Malaysia, or scattered throughout US airports we're all linked together by a single common thread: Google image search and a penchant for the Engadget logo. The latest infringer of our beloved IP is E-pins Corporation, a self-described telecommunications contractor employing some 500 people in the Philippines. With staff like that you'd think they could hire their own graphic designer.

[Thanks, Jeffrey S.]

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:36AM]

I'm from the Philippines and while not every company here is a rip-off artist, 90% of them are. Ripping off Mario for a local DIY shop. Starbucks for money exchange and so on. I'd show you pictures if I had a website.

[Aykee Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:46AM]

I see new readers who dare to comment such racial hate, peeps dont they copy everything over in Asia....well most of them are assembled in Asia, Taiwan, ChinaTown?

[brucie2010 Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:46AM]

Free advertisement for Engadget! Enjoy it :D

[PEZ Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:17AM]

Maybe engaget copied them?

[xtian63 Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:20AM]

looks just about right, well i am filipino and i am not about to say its racist or insulting but in a country that BLATANTLY allows PIRACY, BOOTLEGGING and a lot of other intellectual property rights violations this is pretty common, shopping malls ALLOW stalls to sell PIRATED/BOOTLEGED DVDs and CDs of movies, music, games and software and allows game shops to sell HARD MODDED game consoles from the from the time PS1 up to the XBOX360 so its no surprise that a logo be pirated for the use of others

any any filipino here who has NEVER EVER bought anything FAKE/BOOTLEGD/PIRATED is a shameful hypocrite

[dumpsterj Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:25AM]

they probably used to be called Apple Monster Communications.

[Wwhat Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:47AM]

Who designed the font used in the logo anyway?

[mikmik111 Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:56AM]

I'm a Filipino and copying engadget logo was my idea.

no seriously, I am.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 1:28PM]

Did anyone else try to clean their screen because of the blur at the bottom of the "i"? Man I need more coffee!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:49AM]

Time to go T-Mobile on their asses!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:12AM]

http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/15009/wm/pd469687.jpg

OMG this planet stole your radio wave logo idea... sue it!!!!!

[Wwhat Posted Nov 9th 2009 1:19PM]

Gods have diplomatic immunity, and so do planets.

[J Aaron Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:26AM]

I love that engadget can laugh about this instead of getting all sandy.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:43AM]

Seriously though.. I bet it's coincidence. Check out their website: http://www.epinscorporation.com/epinsweb/

That logo does not look like the engadget logo. It has those wavy stuff but that's in RSS too. And the "e"... well, they just happened to pick a font that looks like that.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:45AM]

Looking at the difference between the company's site and the e in this picture, I bet you some graphic designer (without the e-pins' knowledge) they hired made it look the way it does - more rounded like the engadget "e".

[hacksinger19 Posted Nov 9th 2009 9:50AM]

that is the mini logo of engadget. :(

sue them engadget!

[WmPenn Posted Nov 9th 2009 10:26AM]

@engadget "The latest infringer of our beloved IP is E-pins Corporation" - That's funny, i just did a Philippines trademark search for "engadget" and "Webblogs" but i didn't find any trademarks you own? Care to tell us what the # of your Philippine trademark is, you know the one they're allegedly infringing?

[Ty Posted Nov 9th 2009 10:33AM]

Why would anyone steal a logo that's not so great to begin with I wonder.

[Mr 14 Posted Nov 9th 2009 10:39AM]

Nah, "E-Pins" is too short to be mistaken as a penis.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 10:58AM]

I have not see Engadget logo like this. Isn't Engadget logo as full "Engadget" with Waves ?? If this is the case then how is it copyright violation?

[Wwhat Posted Nov 9th 2009 1:25PM]

Weak excuse, and they do use it as just the e sometimes, like with the podcast (although that has headphones added) http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/08/engadget-podcast-170-11-08-2009/
And it's trademark infringement not copyright, and that is only valid if it's registered in a way that is recognized by the Philippine authorities/treaties and it's not specified for a specific field (web or blogs or tech or such), and they don't give a damn anyway for a small company in such a far away country, so don't sweat it.

[Sttteeevvveee Posted Nov 9th 2009 11:41AM]

@XTN: I remember going to the SM mall in Cebu and they had PS1 modded consoles for like $400 in one of the game stores. It was funny because the games were like $2 in American.

But I've been to other places around the world that also do the same thing so its not only a Philippines thing.

[marco916 Posted Nov 9th 2009 11:57AM]

E-Pins could argue it's not spelling out Engadget, your radio waves are after the T not the E. Reminds me of the Apple and Woolworths logo battle. I’ve been to the PI a few times, if you think this is copy infringement, you should check out the Jeepney's. "Filipino taxi service" They invented the Car Wraps we see here in the states. http://www.zamboanga.com/philippines/images/philippine-jeepney.jpg

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 12:47PM]

@xtn piracy is a global phenomenon and not exclusive to the Philippines. Same with threats to IP. Get your facts straight because there's nothing worse than a citizen berating his own countrymen for something that's clearly not a "typical Filipino thing."

It's human nature, not Filipino nature.

Again, get your heads out of your asses.

[va jj Posted Nov 9th 2009 1:21PM]

manila philippines or manila windows mobile?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2009 1:49PM]

That's f***ked up

[John Doe Posted Nov 9th 2009 6:36PM]

typical racist.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 10th 2009 5:44AM]

Mark, why not get your head out of YOUR ass and stop going on your supposed anti-racism crusade. People stereotype, full stop. You can't do anything to change that. Instead of wasting your efforts trying to stop them, maybe you should make light of it instead.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 11th 2009 9:42AM]

So, do you guys have an in-house law department?