Bixi iPhone app nixed
p2pnet news view | Mobiles:- Speaking of iPhone apps BS, “Stationnement de Montréal has ordered a local web developer to pull an iPhone application that pinpoints where Bixi bikes are available to online users,” says the Montreal Gazette.
Bixi is a self-serve bike system.
With it, public-use bicycles are parked at stations in the downtown core, and Bixi is a registered trademark with Stationnement de Montréal, “a subsidiary of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, which oversees operations of the city’s parking lots, meters and new bike system,” says the story, going on »»»
The Web company, Sparko, launched its free application Sunday. On Tuesday, it was served with a formal legal notice from Stationnement de Montréal advising that it has until tonight to shut down its service.
“That’s pretty sad. We did the project on the weekend and launched it on Sunday morning; a lot of people have been using it each day,” said David Grégoire, co-founder of Sparko.
“I tried to call Stationnement (de Montréal) twice to get their permission. They didn’t call us back, so we decided to put it online for free.
“We thought we were advertising their product in the end, promoting the use of it, so we decided to take the risk and put it online,” Grégoire said.
Stationnement de Montréal’s director of communications and marketing, Michel Philibert realized Sparko was, “trying to offer a service, but said it had no right to appropriate the Bixi name,” says the Montreal Gazette.
(Cheers, Marc)
iPhone apps BS – Apple finds EFF updates app ‘objectionable’, June 3, 2009
Montreal Gazette – Trademark owner puts the brakes on iPhone app, B-29May 29, 2009
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June 3rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
What a bunch of fraking idiots (Stationnement de Montréal)….
They could have taken the time to call the developpers and talk to them but no….a formal legal notice….way to go, a-holes at Stationnement de Montréal.
Waste of our farking tax dollars….
Grumpy now…
June 4th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I’d like to know, specifically, what is being claimed as “appropriation”. You can’t use a trademark to prevent people from talking about your brand, just to prevent them from using your name and marks for their brand. If I want to say “Bixi sucks,” I can, and trademark can’t be used to stop me.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
“Bixi” is a trademarked name, they had no choice. By law you need to protect your trademark or risk losing it.