Name: iPad、iPhone、iMac，但是 Apple 的手錶為什麼不叫 iWatch 呢？(Why The Apple Watch Wasn't Named iWatch)
Uploaded: 2023-03-19T21:01:30.000Z
Duration: 3 min 29 s

Apple has a long history of blockbuster products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

Apple 擁有悠久的暢銷產品歷史，例如 iMac、iPod、iPhone 和 iPad。

But when it came to their smartwatch, they broke from tradition, deciding on the name Apple Watch instead of iWatch.

但是當談到他們的智慧型手錶時，他們打破了傳統，決定使用 Apple Watch 而不是 iWatch。

過去簡單式

So, why was the 'i' prefix not used with Apple's smartwatch?

為什麼蘋果的智慧型手錶不使用「i」當開頭呢？

Well, that's what I'll explain right now.

So, in an interview with David Rubenstein, Tim Cook was asked about this very topic, and he gave a non-specific answer.

當提姆·庫克在接受大衛·魯賓斯坦採訪時，他被問及這個話題，並且給出了一個模棱兩可的答案。

iPhone, iPod, iPad, why not iWatch, didn't you ever think of that or...

iPhone、iPod、iPad，為什麼不叫 iWatch，你沒有想到這個名字還是...

Well, I'm sure you must have thought of it, I'm sure it's not a novel idea, I'm just curious.

我相信你一定有想到，這不是個很創新的點子，只是很好奇。

Uh, it was something we thought of at the time.

- So, it wasn't a crazy question, so... - No, it wasn't a  crazy question at all and, uh...

- 所以這不是個很瘋的問題... - 並不會...

為什麼 Apple Watch 這個名字勝出了？

Well, I kind of liked Apple Watch, what do you think?

我蠻喜歡 Apple Watch 這個名字的，你覺得呢？

Now, considering how much thought Apple puts into the details of every product,

有鑒於 Apple 對每件產品的細節投入了這麼多心思，

there must've been a better reason that the company broke from their iconic naming strategy other than Cook's personal preference for the name Apple Watch.

除了庫克個人對 Apple Watch 這個名字的偏愛之外，公司放棄其標誌性命名策略肯定有更好的理由。

Back when the product was being developed, Apple ran into some legal issues when trademarking the name iWatch.

早在開發產品時，Apple 在用 iWatch 這個名稱註冊商標時遇到了一些法律問題。

Since it was already claimed by a company called OMG Electronics in the US, a software developer called Probendi in Ireland, whose iWatch trademark applied to every country in the EU, and a company in China.

由於該名稱已被美國一家名為 OMG Electronics 的公司、愛爾蘭一家名為 Probendi 的軟體開發商（其 iWatch 商標適用於歐盟所有國家）和中國一家公司註冊。

So Apple would have to deal with expensive trademark disputes in each of those regions just to use the name iWatch.

因此，Apple 必須得在每個地區處理昂貴的商標糾紛，就只為了使用 iWatch 這個名稱。

And this was actually a common occurrence with their products.

這其實是在他們產品身上常見的現象。

The name iPhone was already trademarked by Cisco before the product's release, so Apple had to pay the company an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit.

iPhone 這個名字在產品發布之前就已經被思科註冊為商標，因此蘋果不得不向該公司支付一筆數額不詳的款項以了結訴訟。

The name iPad was already trademarked by Proview in China, so Apple eventually had to pay $60 million to use the name in that region.

iPad 這個名字已經被唯冠在中國註冊為商標，因此蘋果最終必須支付 6000 萬美元才能在該地區使用 iPad 這個名稱。

It became clear that companies were getting the jump on Apple, anticipating their next product release, and trademarking its name, so they could potentially make millions selling it to Apple.

很明顯，有些公司搶先蘋果公司註冊，期待他們的下一個產品發布時會將其名稱註冊為商標，這樣他們就有可能通過將其出售給蘋果公司賺取數百萬美元。

And this problem has only become more common and widespread.

而且這個問題變得越來越普遍。

Apple tried to trademark the 'i' prefix in 2010, so they could easily secure the trademark for future product names, but the court ruled against it, arguing that no company can own the letter 'I.'

Apple 曾在 2010 年嘗試為「i」前綴詞註冊商標，這樣他們就可以輕鬆獲得未來產品名稱的商標，但法院駁回了，認為任何公司都不能擁有字母「I」。

That meant there was only one option, to use a trademark they already owned: Apple.

這表示蘋果只有一個選擇，就是用他們已經擁有的商標：Apple。

That way, no other company could legally claim it.

這樣一來，沒有其他公司可以合法地主張擁有這個名稱。

This is what they had to do with the Apple TV, not because they liked the name, but out of necessity.

這跟他們命名 Apple TV 也有關係，不是因為他們喜歡這個名字，而是出於必要。

In fact, the product was initially revealed as iTV by Steve Jobs in 2006.

事實上，該產品最初在 2006 年由史蒂夫·賈伯斯發表時的名稱為 iTV。

But after an unsuccessful legal battle with a British broadcasting company who owned the trademark, Apple was forced to change the product's name.

但在與擁有該商標的一家英國廣播公司打官司未果後，蘋果被迫更改產品名稱。

And that's the same approach they took with the Apple Watch.

這跟他們對 Apple Watch 採取的做法相同。

In order to avoid the legal issues in the US, EU, and China, Apple avoided using the name iWatch altogether.

為了避免美國、歐盟和中國的法律問題，Apple 完全避免使用 iWatch 這個名稱。

So, while Tim Cook may've liked how the name Apple Watch sounded, I think he may've liked the idea of zero lawsuits better.

因此，雖然提姆·庫克可能喜歡 Apple Watch 這個名字，但我認為他可能更喜歡零訴訟的想法。

This is Greg with Apple Explained, thanks for watching till the end, and I'll see you in the next video.

我是 Apple Explained 頻道的 Greg，感謝觀看到最後，我們下支影片見。