If I was in FiftyThree's position I would be pissed off. But it is a very common word. Simply changing the name of the app to 'Facebook Paper' would probably help with a lot of the issues it might cause.
A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
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Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#22People are going to call the app by Facebook "Facebook Paper" because "Paper" is simply too generic. 53's drawing app name is not strong either. Their iOS app is not called "Paper", but "Paper by FiftyThree". Their icon is not of paper, but of a napkin style rendering of "53". For all intents, the drawing simulation brand name is "FiftyThree". There was a brief moment in history when people thought "I wonder if 53 was acquired". That time has passed, and no one will mistake them from now on.
"Facebook Paper" is an alternative interface to Facebook.
"Paper by FiftyThree" is a drawing application.
Other than that they are both software, there's little room for confusion. 53 can get upset and write a blog post about it, but there is no substantive damage done. They'll probably sell more of their own product because of this.
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#23It's like Apple Inc and Apple Corps. Lesson to self, avoid generic names.
The generic name seems to have worked out well for Apple though, hasn't it?
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#24I admire FiftyThree but this ship has sailed. Unless FiftyThree is willing to lawyer up, I can't imagine anything changing.
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#25I think Facebook should change Paper's name mainly because Paper is a horrible name for this product, which is actually "Facebook without all the crap you never use". The fact that "Paper by FiftyThree" is a name already in use is another factor, why fight this battle when the name isn't even very good?
Right, it's simplified Facebook. Facebook with all the extra bits removed. The hardback book reduced to the paperback...
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#26Maybe they'll release it as Facebook Paper...
But to be honest, if there's a genuine app already bearing that name, they're better off going with something else...
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#27Can both not exist? I don't see how there could be overlap or confusion from potential customers.
"I always use Paper on my ipad for all my pictures, you should check it out" Which app would you download from the appstore ?
Pictures or drawings? I don't know anyone who uses Paper for all their pictures. Maybe it's an image editor now?
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#28I'm a big fan of Paper from 53 (not the most feature-filled drawing tool, but definitely the most pleasant to use) and respect that they wrote a polite request about this and tried to use this as a marketing opportunity rather than threatening legal action or citing some bizarre trademark argument where they claim to have the right to force others not to use a word. 53 comes across pretty well here thus far IMO.
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#29[deleted]
If King can trademark the word Candy then I'm sure Paper would be allowed.
Re: A letter from Paper (FiftyThree) to Paper (Facebook)
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
"I always use Paper on my ipad for all my pictures, you should check it out" Which app would you download from the appstore ?
It just seems a bit melodramatic. Should Google Mail have been named Google Post, just because Yahoo Mail was first? They aren't operating in the same space; furthermore, Facebook didn't name it just "Paper" in the App Store, they've named it "Paper - stories from Facebook".
Exactly. It's a single generic word.