After the release iPad Mini, Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), tried to register the name of the tablet as a brand, but recently received a negative response from the US Patent and Trademark Office. Basically, the people there say that the name "mini" is not a distinctive term and only shows a characteristic of the tablet from Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC),, so it cannot benefit from protection under American law. This is the first time that Apple has been denied such a request, but it can appeal and "correct" any problems with its request.
In this case, both the individual components and the composite result are descriptive of the applicant's goods and do not create a unique, incongruous, or non-descriptive meaning in relation to the goods being small handheld mobile devices comprising tablet computers capable of providing internet access. Therefore, the mark is merely descriptive of a feature or characteristic of the goods and registration is refused under Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act.
Apple was wrong trying to prove that iPad Mini is a distinctive name, using its product promotion page, a USPTO reviewer considered that Apple must use other methods to convince him that the name is worth registering. In the end, Apple will manage to register the name of the tablet, it remains to be seen how long it will take.
