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Victory for Londoner who ‘stole’ iMac designer’s name
Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Editor15 May 2009
A Londoner has won a landmark legal victory against Apple after being accused of “stealing” the identity of the iPhone's inventor.
Harry Jones, 26, was sued after setting up a website about Jonathan Ive, the British designer behind some of the world's biggest technology successes, including the iMac. His site, jonathanive.com, was supposed to be a fansite and educational treasure trove about the computer giant and its products.
But Apple asked him to hand over the site after it emerged that Mr Ive had failed to trademark his own name. When Mr Jones, from Queens Park, refused to comply, lawyers for Apple and Mr Ive took him to court in a case that will have an impact on domain name regulation around the world and an individual's “right” to own his or her own name.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation ruled in favour of Mr Jones because Mr Ive does not market products under his name. “This was a very important case, and a surprising result,” said Kim Walker of lawyers Pinsent Masons.
“It shows that even if you are well known, you are vulnerable to losing your name online. “It's a warning to us all as domain names become more important. It's worth buying the names you are interested in before someone else does.
“The problem was that while Mr Ive has an amazing reputation and is well known in design circles, he has never used his own name to make money.” Apple did not comment on the case, but Mr Ive is thought to be taking out a trademark for his name.
“I only occasionally accept speaking engagements,” he said in a declaration to the World Intellectual Property Organisation. “I am a private person. My reputation has been established by the work I do, not through self-publicity.”
Web designer Mr Jones said he had put a $400,000 (£264,000) price tag on the domain name simply to put Apple off. He pledged to carry on with the site. “I just want to be left alone,” he added. “I have no desire to sell my website to Apple.
“It is a not-for-profit fan site, which I run because Jonathan Ive has been an inspiration to me and many others. Apple were aggressive and threatening. However, this has not changed my view of Jonathan. He is a great designer. I would very much like to be able to talk to him directly, not through lawyers.”
