“Robotaxi” and “Cybercab” are too unoriginal to trademark, USPTO tells Tesla

According to CEO Elon Musk, Tesla's future rests on the two-seat driverless pod.

See full article...

 

[Echohead2]

Xaxi? Has two x's. Musk should love it.

Maybe he should try trademarking xbox as its name. See how that works

 

[ERIFNOMI]

If they don't include the proper soundtrack, I'm not interested.

YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAHHHH

 

[Echohead2]

I remember people on this very forum downvoting me to hell and back circa 2019 for pointing out that a Tesla with FSD was not an appreciating asset, and never would be.

Now you can pick up a used Model 3 from that era for about the cost of a cheeseburger.

I had to look...seems that they are at least $15k. (so about $10-11k net after tax incentive). Many/most were about $20k which would be $14k after rebate. Funnily enough I checked on my 2019 Corolla. Paid $20k for it, looks like I could sell it for about $16k.

 

[Snark218]

How so? I mean setting aside that it almost assuredly can't actually achieve Level 4 autonomy... Why is it not ok for taxi service?

See my post ranting about this above.

 

[ERIFNOMI]

When a "Subscriptor" decides to act as a "Moderator" with an presumptious editorial then I'd say the "game" is triggered. Dood... if you don't like my post then you can downvote it like a fair number of people did! So pull your shorts out of your crack and give them a good wash in your PC bucket.

The irony of backseat moderating for backseat moderating someone who wasn't backseat moderating.

Take your downvotes and get over it.

 

[Echohead2]

I'm thinking that there is nothing autonomous about these vehicles and they're just being operated remotely. Kind of like how we found out that Amazon was just using a bunch of people in India for their 'just walk out' store.

And the optimus robots.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I used an apparently fact based descriptive term that Musk essentially acknowleged

Ok, let me stop you right there. Three points:

1 - the only ‘evidence’ that Musk is in any way on the spectrum/neurodivergent/whatever, is Musk himself.

2 - Musk lies all the time. If you believe the noises emerging from his face, you’re a gullible fool.

3 - even if he were - which he may or may not be, nobody knows - it would not matter in the slightest. He uses it as an excuse. Stop doing likewise.

 

[Echohead2]

Also, this has already been pointed out by many people, but the Robotaxi pisses me off so much, because it's just the dumbest fucking possible take on a taxi. Look at any vehicle in wide use as a taxi, past or present, whether that's a Checker cab or a London cab or a Hindustan Motors Ambassador or a Crown Vic or a NV200 or whatever. They all have in common seating for 4-5 passengers, a large cargo area, a relatively high stance and hip point, a high-riding suspension with plenty of travel, and (at least for modern vehicles) handicap accessibility.

The Robotaxi has NONE of those things. Not one motherfucking item on that list. Not one thing that makes a taxi a good taxi made it to this clean-sheet design for a vehicle that can only be used for autonomous ride-sharing. Two couples sharing a cab down to the club? Not happening. Wheelchair? Fuck you. Parent with two children in car seats going to the airport? Tough. Old people? Fuck 'em. Four suitcases? Take a Waymo. Family trying to cross town to see the sights? Better walk.

It's so fucking stupid.

However, on the flip side. and HUGE percentage of taxi/uber/lyft rides are to 1-2 people with no luggage.

 

[Snark218]

Wow! Now I'm a prejudiced bigot? Are you bringing race into this discussion? Who's the asshole then? I used an apparently fact based descriptive term that Musk essentially acknowleged and the PC Police Dogs attack? Get a grip... perhaps that's an issue that hits close to home?

Yes, my son is autistic. You did indeed hit close to home! By characterizing Musk - someone who has never been formally diagnosed with autism or any other disorder - primarily with his notional autism you have validated autism as an excuse or reason for his actions and therefore insulted all people with autism in general and my son in particular. And so I will continue shaming you for it till you apologize, get banned, or go radio silent out of cowardice.

Moving on to the issue getting a grip, you're throwing a multi-post, whiny, indignant little tantrum over a bit of social pushback after saying something offensive and unacceptable. You shit all over the floor hoping someone would just kick it under the sofa, and now you're whining about having your nose rubbed in it...so get a grip yourself, big dog. You could have just said "oh, sorry, didn't mean that" and moved on, but you tripled down.

 

[rocket_llama]

General words, and forms of life, should never be copy written or trademarked. This includes celebrities who tried to copy write and trademark baby names.

My wife got a C&D after making a vinyl t shirt with the phrase "Country Girl" on it.

 

[Echohead2]

I had to explain the same thing about their solar business recently too. People think Tesla is making solar cells. They're not even making solar panels. They're rebranding white labels from a couple of other companies.

What's happening with their solar roof? That sounded like a good idea, but like most of Musk's things, failed to live up to the hype.

 

[Got Nate?]

CyberCab? That sounds like a web browser (Cyberdog and iCab were both web-browsers in the pre-web2.0 days when multiple browser engines existed).

 

[Echohead2]

While the House of Mouse is extremely powerful and vindictive, it did lose to DeSantis. So it's not cut and dried.

When did Disney lose to DeSantis?

 

[Echohead2]

But that's the thing. For every previous service at that same dealership no-one has ever personally called me up asking if I wanted to sell. This is a change.

This could be due to slagging new car sales moreso than increased used car values.

 

[Echohead2]

Does it even matter what something that will never exist is called?

Did he trademark Hyperloop?

Oh...I think you are wrong there. I definitely think he will launch a robotaxi in Austin. What it will be like is questionable. On a fixed route like a bus-line? Remotely driven like his optimus robots? etc...not a REAL launch, but a carefully controlled show.

 

[prairiedog]

Also, this has already been pointed out by many people, but the Robotaxi pisses me off so much, because it's just the dumbest fucking possible take on a taxi. Look at any vehicle in wide use as a taxi, past or present, whether that's a Checker cab or a London cab or a Hindustan Motors Ambassador or a Crown Vic or a NV200 or whatever. They all have in common seating for 4-5 passengers, a large cargo area, a relatively high stance and hip point, a high-riding suspension with plenty of travel, and (at least for modern vehicles) handicap accessibility.

The Robotaxi has NONE of those things. Not one motherfucking item on that list. Not one thing that makes a taxi a good taxi made it to this clean-sheet design for a vehicle that can only be used for autonomous ride-sharing. Two couples sharing a cab down to the club? Not happening. Wheelchair? Fuck you. Parent with two children in car seats going to the airport? Tough. Old people? Fuck 'em. Four suitcases? Take a Waymo. Family trying to cross town to see the sights? Better walk.

It's so fucking stupid.

OTOH, small enough that a half-dozen properly motivated college lads should be able to pitch them into rivers & canals.

 

[Echohead2]

See my post ranting about this above.

I saw that after I posted. But I just searched and the results said that 86% of taxi rides are to single riders. Another 6% for 2 passengers. So that is 92% with 1-2 passengers.

Luggage could be a problem as tons of rides to/from airports. However, I suspect most only have carryons which would probably work in a Tesla robotaxi.

 

[ERIFNOMI]

Wow! Third-row moderating LOL!

Why don't you go back to lurking and try again in a few years?

 

[Echohead2]

Except that both lidar and radar are both weak crutches meant to hold up a system that should work with cameras only (one of the very few things that I agree with Musk about) but absolutely can't because the state of camera technology and processing that data are so damn inferior to human eyes and brains that they are next to worthless in comparison. If the system is ever going to be a true L5 then, by definition, it cannot rely on lidar because lidar is shit in the rain, slush, and snow.

Guess what else is shit in rain/slush/snow...vision.

Well...the human eye is estimated to be over 500 megapixels, connected to pretty decent computer.

Yes, maybe cameras alone can do it...in 20 years. But today...lidar and radar are needed.

 

[Echohead2]

Wow! Third-row moderating LOL!

Ok...now that is funny given it is comment on automobile article.

 

[Snark218]

And the optimus robots.

You mean the Starbase Chuck E Cheese band?

 

[Snark218]

Ok...now that is funny given it is comment on automobile article.

Especially about a two-seater!

 

[Snark218]

OTOH, small enough that a half-dozen properly motivated college lads should be able to pitch them into rivers & canals.

The kids are all right.

 

[Echohead2]

Musk - someone who has never been formally diagnosed with autism or any other disorder

That we know of.

 

[Echohead2]

Especially about a two-seater!

accuracy aside, I thought it was clever. I've heard "back seat driver" before, but like the turn of phrase..."third row driver" (and obviously modification to moderating).

 

[theOGpetergregory]

OTOH, small enough that a half-dozen properly motivated college lads should be able to pitch them into rivers & canals.

That will be treated as TERRORISM by the DOJ.

I wish it was /s

 

[Snark218]

That we know of.

Sure. But regardless, whatever the reasons he's worthless fascist asshole trying to launch an anocratic oligarchy? If he is autistic, autism is not the most salient feature of his personality or worth mentioning in criticism or praise, and if he's not, then why bring it up at all.

 

[Killdozer77]

Decades ago I took a short taxi ride in winter. The taxi driver mentioned that his previous fare had rolled the windows down for their entire trip and he couldn't understand why (because, you know, winter). However, I knew exactly why. The taxi driver had a level of BO so high that I was almost barfing.

I imagine that repulsively smelling Robotaxis will be an issue in the future. Especially if people do things like "accidentally" leaving seafood in the taxi after their ride, and the taxi is sitting around in the hot TX sun.

Wyamo robot taxis are all over Phoenix now and people seem to like them. I've heard nothing about these sorts of incidents with them being a significant problem. Or are you saying people will do it on purpose due to how they feel about Musk?

 

[fenris_uy]

If they allowed them to trademark Cybertruck, they should be allowed to trademark Cybercab, they should have blocked the first name as too generic.

 

[Jeff S]

Except that both lidar and radar are both weak crutches meant to hold up a system that should work with cameras only (one of the very few things that I agree with Musk about) but absolutely can't because the state of camera technology and processing that data are so damn inferior to human eyes and brains that they are next to worthless in comparison. If the system is ever going to be a true L5 then, by definition, it cannot rely on lidar because lidar is shit in the rain, slush, and snow.

Human vision often gets pretty shit in rain, slush, and snow too. . .

Why would you do all of the above? Better visual process BUT ALSO additional things like radar, to help a car 'see' even better than any human could?

 

[AusPeter]

When did Disney lose to DeSantis?

You're not aware of the whole losing self-governing status, and replacing the board thing?

 

[ERIFNOMI]

What's happening with their solar roof? That sounded like a good idea, but like most of Musk's things, failed to live up to the hype.

Overpromised and underdelivered, just like everything else.

Of course others have solar tile roofs and they actually sell them. Tesla is getting out of the solar business because their offering was more expensive and less performant than others and they could only ride the Tesla brand name for so long. Now that the name (Tesla or Musk, take your pick) is a giant anchor dragging everything associated with it to the bottom of a septic tank, Tesla Solar is dead

 

[AusPeter]

Wyamo robot taxis are all over Phoenix now and people seem to like them. I've heard nothing about these sorts of incidents with them being a significant problem. Or are you saying people will do it on purpose due to how they feel about Musk?

Yes, given the sentiment about Musk I can see that sort of thing happening. After all, do you see Waymo cars being actively vandalized?

 

[jeremyp66]

Except that both lidar and radar are both weak crutches meant to hold up a system that should work with cameras only (one of the very few things that I agree with Musk about) but absolutely can't because the state of camera technology and processing that data are so damn inferior to human eyes and brains that they are next to worthless in comparison. If the system is ever going to be a true L5 then, by definition, it cannot rely on lidar because lidar is shit in the rain, slush, and snow.

Human eyes aren't great in those conditions either.

 

[theOGpetergregory]

Now you can pick up a used Model 3 from that era for about the cost of a cheeseburger.

"Once again the conservative, sandwich heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor!"

 

[AusPeter]

And the optimus robots.

OT But last year I read a short story about a near future where there were autonomous home help robots. Except the protagonist accidentally discovered that the robots were teleoperated from Mexico. And the operators were educated people who had been deported from the US to Mexico, and were selected for the job because they were very familiar with US culture. Now I'm beginning to wonder if this story is more of a guide book than fiction.

 

[Coriolanus]

I feel like the Optimus robot trademark will also hit snags during prosecution and potential opposition from Hasbro.