Law Suits Over The Sound Of Flatulence: The iFart

Posted in: Computers And Internet
By J. Mark Soveign
Mar 28, 2009 - 2:24:56 AM
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It's no laughing matter. Florida-based Air-O-Matic's "Pull My Finger" app for iPhone was the No. 2 seller for a brief period earlier this year on the popular iPhone App Store. This was until iFart from InfoMedia went on to become the Number one application for 22 consecutive days. Now, these two companies are in a legal fight over one of the more Beavis & Buttheaded applications for the iPhones, the sound of breaking wind.

According to the Denver Post the Air-O-Matic corporation sent InfoMedia a "cease and desist" letter demanding that it remove the phrase "pull my finger" from all of its advertising. InfoMedia's has made the counter-claim that the phrase has been in common usage for too long a time. "When you say that phrase, it may be more likely to take you back to your junior high school days as opposed to thinking of a particular iPhone application," said trademark lawyer and consultant John Posthumus. "The case has interesting facets that could make for lively arguments if the issue went to trial." he added.

Believing that he stands on solid legal ground, InfoMedia chief executive Joel Comm sees plenty of humor in fart-noise commerce. "iFart is a superior product to its competitors". He has been quoted as saying. With features such as the time-delayed "Sneak Attack," as well as "Security Fart," which produces a noise if someone touches an unguarded phone or iPod. One could scarcely take issue with such claims.

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This artice was written by Mark Soveign who owns and writes for Wertheim Communications LLC as well as Mooker.Com