As today’s Apple launch draws near, new details emerge on the next-generation Apple TV.
It seems Apple may have trademarked the name for its new Apple TV operating system way back in November.
Earlier today, we reported on a leak by 9to5mac suggesting the revamped operating system for the new device would be called “tvOS”, and it would be based on iOS 9.
A separate report by MacRumors now suggests Apple may have had that name locked down for quite some time, but it kept the moniker wraps.
According to the report, a number of trademark filings for “tvOS” were made back in May.
The company that filed for the trademarks was called Television OnStream LLC. The report suggests this is a shell corporation that was created just days before the filing.
The company is based out of Delaware’s Corporation Trust Center – a concealment tactic employed by Apple and other corporations.
We should also note that the mid-May filing came just before Apple’s annual WWDC conference.
The trademark applications in question mention a “priority date” of November 17, 2014, relating to a filing made in Jamaica.
According to the MacRumors article, Jamaica is a “frequent location” for Apple’s initial filings. That’s apparently because the country doesn’t publish an online database of filings, which makes them hard to follow up.
The report also notes that Television OnStream shortens to the acronym “tvOS”. That same tactic was employed with the iPad trademark, originally hidden behind a company called “IP Application Development”.
The final similarities come courtesy of specific legal entities used by the mysterious Television OnStream corporation.
For instance, the company uses UK law firm Locke Lord to handle an Italian filing. Apple used the same firm to protect its “watchOS’ trademark.
Similarly, the same trademark lawyer was used in Turkey to handle both the “watchOS” filing and Television OnStream’s “tvOS” filing.
What’s more, both companies used law firm Arochi & Lindner to manage filings in Mexico.
Related: What to expect from the iPhone 6S launch event
Unfortunately, we can’t say for sure whether Apple is linked to Television OnStream in any way.
We’ll have to wait until today’s launch event – scheduled for 18:00 London time – to kick off before we know the truth. Click here for our guide on how to watch the livestream.
Apple is expected to show off a number of new devices at the event, including a revamped Apple TV, the long-rumoured iPhone 6S, and a 12-inch iPad Pro.
Do you think Apple is employing some legal trickery to conceal its new television operating system? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
