Golf sporting goods PING has just issued a release stating that it has comes to a trademark agreement with Apple over the technology company’s new music social network, aptly called Ping.
PING, which apparently owns the trademark for the name “ping,” and its parent company, Karsten Manufacturing Corporation is licensing its trademark for the name PING, so that Apple could use the name for its new feature.
John Solheim, Chairman and CEO of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation and PING said in a statement:
“Like PING, Apple carries a reputation for innovation and quality. I have always had great respect for companies that have changed and improved the ways things are done and I continue to model PING along those lines. Apple is a truly great example of this kind of enterprise.”
Who knew that Apple and a golfing goods company would somehow be affiliated? Apple’s Ping also shares its name with social network syndication service Ping.fm, which was acquired by Seesmic at the start of this year.
In June, Cisco licensed the “iOS” trademark to Apple after the company renamed its mobile operating system. And FaceTime Communications transferred the rights of its name to Apple for the company’s new video chat feature. Apple has clearly learned its lesson after being sued by Cisco over the “iPhone” trademark.