 |
 |
|
iFart Mobile and Pull My Finger Finally Break Their Lingering Legal Dispute
Loveland, CO
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Clear the Air
Video Clip: Click to Watch
The battle for iPhone flatulence supremacy has come to a close as the world's two leading iPhone fart app creators have made peace with the release of the jointly created "Clear the Air" application.
The legal battles made global news last February when the InfoMedia, Inc., creators of iFart Mobile responded to demands from competitor Air-O-Matic, creator of the Pull My Finger app. Air-O-Matic suggested that the phrase Pull My Finger was legally trademarked by their company. Not only did they request that InfoMedia cease using the phrase in their marketing, but they should also send $50,000 to Air-O-Matic to make up for lost sales due to misappropriation of the phrase.
InfoMedia viewed the threats as hot air and responded by filing a complaint for declatory judgment in a Colorado Federal court. The highest profile case between app developers to date, the iFart vs. Pull My Finger story became a national story, featured on TechCrunch, CNet, Gizmodo and many other media outlets.
The story hit its crescendo in July of 2009 when The Daily Show with Jon Stewart dedicated an entire segment to the case which Stewart himself said "was sure to go Supreme" Joel Comm, CEO of InfoMedia, Inc. and Eric Stratton, a principal with Wellspring Ventures (parent company of Air-O-Matic), made their case to The Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac. In a segment that has been viewed around the world, it became clear that seeing this case all the way to court would not best serve iFart or Pull My Finger customers. Comm and Sam Magdalein (a principal at Air-O-Matic) decided to air out their differences to see if they could come to a peaceful resolution. The result is the release of "Clear the Air" a brand new iPhone application designed to promote freedom of flatulence while embracing the notion of getting along with each other.
"The only ones who really win in litigation are the lawyers," said Joel Comm of InfoMedia, Inc. "While those observing the case were eager to see arguments regarding fart apps presented before a justice of the peace, Sam and I decided that it would be more in the spirit of humanity to find a way to work together"
Sam Magdalein of Air-O-Matic concurred by saying "We've decided that there is more than enough room in the fart app genre for both iFart and Pull My Finger to co-exist" Magdalein continued, "Joel and his team have been a pleasure to work with, and we're proud to state that Clear the Air is the first ointly-created iPhone app born out of competition"
Clear the Air is being offered free to iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app contains four methods of "clearing the air" for users to choose from, including turning on a desk fan, spraying deodorizer, flipping on the air conditioner or opening a window. Each scene is accompanied by humorous animation and a hidden easter egg that is set off when certain interaction is triggered.
Download links for the free application can be found on the official site at http://ClearTheAirApp.com
InfoMedia, Inc. is Loveland, Colorado-based new media and marketing company focused on exploring technology for business and consumers. Providing a fifteen-year track record of building profitable Internet sites and software, InfoMedia leads the way in innovative, entertaining and educational uses of the Internet and new technologies. For more information or interviews, contact Joel Comm at 970-278-0011.
Air-O-Matic, Inc. is a Jacksonville, Florida based company focused on developing fun, useful applications the iPhone. For more information, please contact Sam Magdalein at info@air-o-matic.com.
The legal battles made global news last February when the InfoMedia, Inc., creators of iFart Mobile responded to demands from competitor Air-O-Matic, creator of the Pull My Finger app. Air-O-Matic suggested that the phrase Pull My Finger was legally trademarked by their company. Not only did they request that InfoMedia cease using the phrase in their marketing, but they should also send $50,000 to Air-O-Matic to make up for lost sales due to misappropriation of the phrase.
InfoMedia viewed the threats as hot air and responded by filing a complaint for declatory judgment in a Colorado Federal court. The highest profile case between app developers to date, the iFart vs. Pull My Finger story became a national story, featured on TechCrunch, CNet, Gizmodo and many other media outlets.
The story hit its crescendo in July of 2009 when The Daily Show with Jon Stewart dedicated an entire segment to the case which Stewart himself said "was sure to go Supreme" Joel Comm, CEO of InfoMedia, Inc. and Eric Stratton, a principal with Wellspring Ventures (parent company of Air-O-Matic), made their case to The Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac. In a segment that has been viewed around the world, it became clear that seeing this case all the way to court would not best serve iFart or Pull My Finger customers. Comm and Sam Magdalein (a principal at Air-O-Matic) decided to air out their differences to see if they could come to a peaceful resolution. The result is the release of "Clear the Air" a brand new iPhone application designed to promote freedom of flatulence while embracing the notion of getting along with each other.
"The only ones who really win in litigation are the lawyers," said Joel Comm of InfoMedia, Inc. "While those observing the case were eager to see arguments regarding fart apps presented before a justice of the peace, Sam and I decided that it would be more in the spirit of humanity to find a way to work together"
Sam Magdalein of Air-O-Matic concurred by saying "We've decided that there is more than enough room in the fart app genre for both iFart and Pull My Finger to co-exist" Magdalein continued, "Joel and his team have been a pleasure to work with, and we're proud to state that Clear the Air is the first ointly-created iPhone app born out of competition"
Clear the Air is being offered free to iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app contains four methods of "clearing the air" for users to choose from, including turning on a desk fan, spraying deodorizer, flipping on the air conditioner or opening a window. Each scene is accompanied by humorous animation and a hidden easter egg that is set off when certain interaction is triggered.
Download links for the free application can be found on the official site at http://ClearTheAirApp.com
InfoMedia, Inc. is Loveland, Colorado-based new media and marketing company focused on exploring technology for business and consumers. Providing a fifteen-year track record of building profitable Internet sites and software, InfoMedia leads the way in innovative, entertaining and educational uses of the Internet and new technologies. For more information or interviews, contact Joel Comm at 970-278-0011.
Air-O-Matic, Inc. is a Jacksonville, Florida based company focused on developing fun, useful applications the iPhone. For more information, please contact Sam Magdalein at info@air-o-matic.com.
Joel Comm
InfoMedia, Inc.
Loveland, CO
970-278-0011
First Url: Clear the Air - Free iPhone Application
Second Url: CNET news
