According to an article in Mainichi MSN, Apple wants to use its trademarks to limit the sale of sex toys with “pod” in their name.

Ichiro Kameda, the president of a tiny, two-person operation in Osaka, is currently embroiled in a bitter battle with computer maker Apple.

“The fight is all over what I call our beat generator,” says Kameda. “There’s a small device with three different, sound-activated motors. It’s a revolutionary invention. You can plug it in to iPods or mobile phones. It can also be programmed to operate only for certain voices.”

Kameda’s “beat generator” is designed to be worn internally by women, delivering vibrations when triggered by sound.

Though the Japanese Patent Agency gave him the right to use the devise in August last year, and the trademark he chose for the product was approved two months later, Kameda hasn’t been able to sell it because Apple has raised objections to the gPod’s name.

“This Japanese lawyer rolled up on my doorstep one day, saying he represented Apple and carrying a letter asking me to change the product name,” Kameda tells Shukan Gendai.

Apple legal representatives have repeatedly contacted Kameda, requesting he stop using the gPod trademark.

“The product planned for use with the trademark ‘gPod’ is a sex aid and masturbation aid¬Å,” notes one of Apple’s letters. “If this product comes onto the market, you will be forced to take all sorts of legal measures to deal with it¬Åc. We would like to avoid a fight over this and would be prepared to cover any costs you have incurred.”

“What they were telling me was that they’d pay if I agreed to stop using the trademark. Of course I turned them down. If they sue me, I’ll fight,” he says.

Kameda plans to put the gPod on sale in Japan alone at the end of this month.