On the 16th of November, 1982,
Steve Jobs penned a letter to McIntosh Labs, seeking permission to use the name “Macintosh” for Apple’s upcoming computer. McIntosh Labs, known for their high-end stereo equipment, posed a potential trademark hurdle. Jef Raskin, the brain behind the Macintosh project, had intentionally altered the spelling to differentiate it from McIntosh’s audio products, but alas, phonetic similarities led to a trademark denial.
Undeterred, Jobs, with a touch of humour and hope, appealed to McIntosh Labs for permission or a licensing arrangement. Gordon Gow, the president of McIntosh Labs, paid a visit to Apple headquarters for a product demo after receiving the letter. Despite Jobs’ charm offensive, legal counsel advised Gow to reject the request.
The plot thickened until March 1983 when Apple finally secured a license for the name Macintosh. The saga didn’t end there; in 1986, Apple went all-in, acquiring the trademark for an undisclosed, undoubtedly substantial, sum of money. The twists and turns of this naming escapade paint a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs in the quest for branding brilliance.