What’s The Plural Of BlackBerry? The Definitive Answer
I know this argument has been going on for ages. Is it BlackBerrys or BlackBerries. I have heard the points on both sides and personally held by BlackBerrys. Even the trusty Wikipedia refers to both the plural “BlackBerrys” AND “BlackBerries” in their article.
So I did the research and it turns out all of us were wrong…
According to RIM’s Branding Guidelines. (You can read it for yourself at this link on RIM’s website)
Do not use RIM Trademarks in a plural or possessive form.
Acceptable:
- BlackBerry® smartphones
Unacceptable:
- BlackBerrys
- BlackBerries
- BlackBerry’s
This is stressed even further in the BlackBerry Branding Guidelines document
If you want a good laugh you should read the whole guidelines document. RIM seems to think they own every derivative of BlackBerry including the two letters BB. According to their creative lawyers you also cannot use the word BlackBerry to, and I quote:
You are not permitted to use the RIM Trademarks in any manner that disparages RIM, its affiliates, partners, products or services.
I guess RIM thinks this is a way to legally protect BlackBerry Smartphones (intentional dig) from bad reviews.
So what do you think? I personally will be sticking with the trusty BlackBerrys…
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May 27th, 2008 17:40
Well, forbidding people from using “Blackberry” as a noun is RIMarkably silly.
You can’t stop that kind of usage with laws and regulations. But I agree that it makes more sense not to apply any plural form to the brand name. Therefore, one should buy “two Blackberry”, as in “two Blackberry (phones)”.
Great find, Ronen!
May 27th, 2008 17:47
Its to protect their trademark.
And did you actually call Wikipedia “trusty”?
May 27th, 2008 17:57
Sorry Jeff sometimes I don’t stress the IRONY
May 28th, 2008 05:12
This has gone from a private debate to a public forum. BlackBerry’s vs BlackBerries has just about run its race.
). ‘Blackberry’s’ means ‘belongs to blackberry’, eg. “Blackberry’s new operating system”.
My take on the matter; ‘Blackberries’ is the plural of blackberry, eg. “Greg has way to many blackberries” (something my wife says a lot
Now if any of our readers out there are English Literature professors or similar could you please let us know the correct ‘plural’ of ‘blackberry’ and we can put this debate to bed…
May 28th, 2008 13:55
If RIM were following their own guidelines, wouldn’t the default “signature” on BIS email accounts be “Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone”, rather than what it says now “Sent from my BlackBerry”???
May 28th, 2008 14:09
That’s awesome. I did not think of that David…