Sony Ericsson says Clearwire copied its logo

By Geoff Duncan January 19, 2011

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The smartphone world is rife with litigation, with most of the major players involved in lawsuits against other major players over patents and technology issues. (Some of the biggies: Apple versus Nokia, Apple versus Motorola, Motorola, NTP versus everyone, Sony versus LG Paul Allen versus everyone, etc.) In that context, Sony Ericsson has decided to go after U.S. WiMax operator Clearwire — not because it believes the company is infringing on Sony Ericsson technology, but because it doesn’t like Clearwire’s logo.

According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Sony Ericsson was the only company in the mobile industry with a green-and-silver sphere-and-swirl logo, and it believes Clearwire’s most recent logo is way too close to its own. The problem will be compounded when (and if) Clearwire starts marketing WiMax-enabled handsets with its own branding, creating confusion between Sony Ericsson mobile devices and Clearwire’s.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The suit seeks an order that Clearwire stop using the logo, as well as damages and any profits Clearwire has seen from use of the logo.

Sony Ericsson says it has been in talks with Clearwire for months about the similarity in the logos, and has also challenged Clearwire’s application for trademark protection on the logo. Sony Ericsson said that those talks led to Clearwire abandoning one version of the logo, but that Clearwire moved ahead with its current logo without informing Sony Ericsson.

So far, Clearwire has offered WiMax technology for notebooks and routers, but left the WiMax-enabled handset business to partner Sprint.

Editors' Recommendations

Rumors say Sony is making an Xperia phone with a six-lens rear camera

Topics

Sony

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals

A person holding a partially open Galaxy Z Fold 4.

While the more recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has turned attention away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 4 is still an incredibly capable smartphone. Newer tech releases often make previous generations much more affordable, and that’s certainly the case with the Z Fold 4. While much of what’s available out there are refurbished models, there’s some huge savings to be had on a Z Fold 4. Retailers like Amazon and Back Market offer great ways to save, and we’ve got all of the information you need to do so. Reading onward you’ll find links to the best Samsung Z Fold 4 deals you can shop right now, as well as a little information on what each retailer has to offer with a purchase.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Best Buy
The Unlocked 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on clearance at Best Buy. The popular retailer is really showing up with this deal, which sees the Z Fold 4 marked down to $700 and makes for nearly $1,300 in savings. Even more savings are available if you have an eligible device trade-in.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
Amazon may currently have the widest variety of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals. You’ll find both the 256GB and 512GB models discounted there, as though much of what's available are renewed models. Don't hold back because it's renewed, though, as Amazon has a great return policy should you receive something that doesn't live up to its condition. You can save even more when purchasing a Galaxy Z Fold 4 at Amazon if you have an eligible device to trade-in.

Mobile

Best refurbished iPhone deals: Get an iPhone 14 for $513

An iPhone 13 in white color option.

The Apple iPhone is one of the best phones on the market, and because of it they don’t often come cheap. There are some great iPhone deals out there, but it’s rare to find significant discounts on newer models without having to commit to a longterm contract with a carrier, and it’s even less frequent you come across one of the best iPhones with a major price drop. This is where shopping refurbished can come in handy. Refurbished iPhones — for the most part — will come backed with a functionality guarantee or extended return window, making refurbished iPhones as safe of a purchase as shopping new. There are a lot of refurbished iPhone models seeing great price drops right now, which is why we’ve done the heavy lifting of rounding up all of the best refurbished iPhone deals. You’ll find them below, as well as some information on which refurbished iPhone might be best for you.
iPhone XR -- from $136

A refurbished model but one that's unlocked and comes with a full one-year warranty, the Apple iPhone XR is still pretty stylish for its age. It has a large 6.1-inch LCD screen with 1,792 x 828 resolution with Liquid Retina technology ensuring it looks super sharp. Powered by the A12 Bionic chip, it's starting to show its age but still has potential. There's also a 12MP back camera that can shoot 4K videos while the front-facing camera is 7MP and ideal for selfie-taking.

Mobile

The best iPads in 2024: the 5 best ones you should buy

The backs of Apple's iPad Air and iPad Pro, with the tablets place on a table.

Apple's iPad is undoubtedly one of the most popular tablets on the market right now. There are several different models to choose from, but no matter which one you go with, you'll be getting one of the best tablets out there. Still, Apple provides an abundance of choice here, and with so many different versions — and almost annual updates — it can be tricky to know which one is the best to get.

All of Apple's iPads are pretty great, and they're each designed with a slightly different audience in mind, so it's hard to pick a single one as "the best." That's why we've broken this list down by categories; after all, there's an ideal iPad for nearly every situation. Whether you're looking for the best overall iPad, the best iPad on a budget, something in the middle of the pack, or even the best small iPad, we've got you covered.