Apple has acquired a trademark to the term "Lightning" -- the name it uses for the new, smaller connector for its iOS devices -- from Harley-Davidson, according to online filings. The transfer, however, only applies to certain applications of the term.
First reported by Patently Apple, Europe's Trademark and Designs Registration Office shows two Lightning trademarks now held by Apple that were originally filed by a company called H-D Michigan, LLC. Although the company isn't identified explicitly as Harley-Davidson, Michigan is where the motorcycle manufacturer's intellectual-property holding company is based.
The transfers occurred on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, according to the documents. The two trademarks applications are filed under numbers 011399821 and 011399862. The trademarks had both been transferred from H-D Michigan, but only "partially." The application specifies exactly what sort of applications Apple could use for the term, and they include:
audio and video equipment
television sets
telephones
recorded computer software
pinball machines
eyeglasses
Some of the types of goods and services that were included in the original application will remain with Harley-Davidson (for example, clothing and footwear), so presumably Apple was very specific about which applications it wanted. The inclusion of eyeglasses might be an indicator that Apple could be interested in exploring its own Google Glass competitor -- complete with Lightning connector -- down the line, but that's pure speculation.
The Lightning connector first debuted in the iPhone 5 and has since spread to virtually all of Apple's portable devices, including the iPod touch, iPad mini and full-size iPad. It's significantly smaller than its predecessor, the 30-pin dock connector, allowing Apple to shrink the iPhone to a mere 0.3 inch thick. However, to be compatible with older accessories, Lightning devices must use an adapter, which is more limited in its abilities.
What other future Apple products would you like to see with the Lightning connector? Let us know in the comments.