The United States Patent and Trademark Office has rejected Apple's application for a trademark on the term "iPad mini," it was revealed recently. In a letter sent to Apple on January 24 ó but only recently made public ó the USPTO said that the addition of "mini" to "iPad" was not significantly distinct from Apple's already-held iPad trademark to merit its own filing. iPad mini, the rejection letter notes, "merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicant's good."
