Report: Apple did buy the 'AirTag' trademark after all

Following some trademark sleuthing earlier this week that suggested Apple now owns the "AirTag" trademark it looks like that might actually be the case. Russian site RBC reports (via MacRumors) that a group has sold the trademark to Apple.

According to RBC, a group called ISBC recently sold the "AirTag" trademark to Apple. The report goes on to say that the deal included a clause which means the group would continue to develop its products under a single brand.

ISBC has since confirmed that it has indeed sold the trademark but that it won't say who bought it because of a confidentiality agreement.

ISBC® group of companies have decided to bet on enhancing development of its own products under a single namesake trademark ISBC®. This rebranding decision is very much conditioned by international deal on assignment of the trademark AIRTAG®.

[...]

Transfer of RFID keyfobs from AIRTAG® brand to our flagship one - ISBC® - evidences our confidence in future of the product and solutions related. Confidentiality agreed does not allow us to disclose the deal in detail. But we may express our confidence the the future of AIRTAG® trademark we have envisaged and registered internationally will be bright, the whole world will learn and love the new product so named.

The rumor of AirTags – or Apple Tags as I'd hoped they'd be called – has been a solid one for weeks. References in iOS betas have been an almost weekly occurence and they've even been spotted in the Find My app, too.

At this point the question isn't whether Apple is working on a Tile-like tracker, but rather when it will be announced. The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro announcement was thought to be the perfect time, but that came and went. The recent AirPods Pro announcement via press release does suggest something similar could happen with AirTags. I'll be waiting and seeing, just like you.