Apple Sends Porn Company Cease and Desist Over 'App Store' Name

A mobile porn app has changed its tagline after Apple threatened to sue it for using the words "app store," even as Apple's trademark for the phrase remains pending.

MiKandi (pronounced "my candy") is a Seattle-based start-up that billed itself as the "world's first mobile porn app store" when it launched in 2009. It offers Android-based content, from games like Pocket Hottie to "next generation boob bouncing" er, images, like iBoobs.

However, as the company notes on its blog, this description did not fly with Apple.

"Last week, Apple hit yours truly with a cease and desist over our use of the term App Store," the company wrote on Tuesday. "And just this week, Apple hit Amazon [with a] suit over their use of the term 'Appstore' (too close to 'app' space 'store' for Apple's tastes). Amazon gave Apple the proverbial finger and launched the Amazon Appstore this week any way," he wrote.

"Our pockets aren't as deep as Amazon's (although you can help us out with that by using your MiKandi Gold to buy some apps), so today we're introducing you to MiKandi- the world's first app market for adults," the company said.

MiKandi has replaced every self-reference of "app store" with "app market."

On Monday, reports surfaced that Apple sued Amazon for calling its own mobile app store the Amazon App Store, which allegedly sounds too similar to Apple's App Store. As MiKandi notes, Amazon officially launched its store on Tuesday without changing its name. Apple has been trying to trademark the phrase "app store" since 2008, something to which Microsoft has objected.