Apple’s decision to avoid the name “iWatch” before unveiling its wearable in September 2014 might have been influenced more by potential trademark disputes than by a shift away from the familiar “i” prefix.

In 2012, tiny US startup OMG Electronics filed for trademark protection for “iWatch” with the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), two years before Apple announced its smartwatch. OMG’s reason for the “i” prefix stemmed from its “ultimate mobile device,” launched on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. Unfortunately, it garnered only 1 percent of its $90,000 funding goal, attracting a mere seven backers.

There were also other trademark applications on TESS predating Apple’s filings for the wearable, with some referring to the device as “iWatch” in various non-US markets. Despite Apple’s efforts to secure the iWatch trademark globally, they were unsuccessful.

Apple’s naming conventions had become predictable and were being exploited. While Apple could have potentially resolved these trademark issues by purchasing the prior claims, it seems the company decided that, if they were planning to move away from the “i” prefix in the long term, it wasn’t worth the effort. Thus, they settled on the name “Apple Watch” instead.