David Bollier wonders "Who Should Control “U” and “2”? The Plot Thickens"
"First came the legendary legal battle over who should be able to control the letter “U” and the numeral “2” – the rock group U2 or anyone (including the mischievous band Negativland)? Now we have a hilarious sequel that asks, If Apple can sell a “special edition” iPod in honor of U2, can anyone buy an iPod and create their own “special edition” (celebrating Negativland, for example), and sell it on eBay? Apple – the computer company that urges us to “Rip, Mix, Burn,” the company that presents itself as the height of cool and groovy – has bared its stony corporate face and declared: No. You may not make fun of U2, the Apple iPod or its marketing campaign."
Apple will ultimately lose out in the marketplace with this protectionism and bundling, just as they did in the personal computer business when Microsoft came along selling licences for software to generic PC makers.
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