> In 1989, Island Graphics released a "low-end" X11 office suite for Apollo workstations, called iWrite, iDraw, iPaint

I have used Ami Pro and CorelDRAW! on OS/2 but had never heard of this Island suite before, and it made me curious if these were why Apple's Pages and Numbers have such awkward terrible names:

- Island iWrite: https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=74013904&caseSearchType=U...

- Island iDraw: https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=74013951&caseSearchType=U...

It looks like Apple did attempt to file a US trademark for “iWrite” in 2003 which was tentatively assigned but then canceled in 2005 shortly before Pages 1.0's release:

- Apple iWrite: https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78299734&caseSearchType=U...

…but Apple's USA trademark issue seems to be failure to submit documentation about a “foreign application” they filed for the same “iWrite” in Hong Kong.

“This is in response to the Examining Attorney's September 12, 2005 Suspension Inquiry. The Examining Attorney requested that Applicant indicate the status of the foreign application. The Application had previously been suspended pending receipt of a copy of the foreign registration certificate under 44(e). The foreign application has been advertised but has not yet matured to registration. Applicant therefore requests that the Application be put back into suspension pending the registration of the foreign application.”

“Section 44(e) Based on Foreign Registration: Applicant has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods and /or services, and submits a copy of [ Hong Kong registration number B1127/2005 registered 03/13/2003 ]”.

I looked that up (HK 2005B01127) and it is an active HK trademark filed by Apple which is valid through 2030: https://esearch.ipd.gov.hk/nis-pos-view/#/tm/details/view/78...

So nothing to do with Island's iWrite at all and sorry that this comment is now mildly off-topic. My complete speculation is that Apple didn't want to wait for this to get sorted out and delay the release of Pages any longer w/r/t Microsoft's Office 2004 being one of last remaining elements of control MS could exert on 2000s Apple v(._. )v

Cool history; thanks for posting!

Thanks a lot for going through this rabbit hole for all of us. Comments like this is why I am here every day!