Weemote
{{Short description|Television remote control made by Fobis Technologies}}
{{Update|date=May 2018}}
{{for|the Wii controller|Wii Remote}}
The Weemote is a television remote control made by Fobis Technologies that was designed for young children.
Design
The Weemote was designed for younger children to limit their ability to surf television channels, and also to partially serve as a learning tool. The remote looks like a toy with buttons that are different colors and specific shapes. Each button can be programmed to a specific television channel.{{cite web |url=http://www.remotecentral.com/weemote/index.html |title=Fobis Technologies Weemote Kids' Remote Control |accessdate=2008-08-01}} There are several variants of the product, Weemote 2,{{cite web |last1=Tonks |first1=Daniel |title=Weemote 2 Kids' Remote Control Review |url=https://www.remotecentral.com/weemote/index4.htm |website=Remote Central |access-date=2 December 2023}} an updated version, and Weemote Sr., intended for the elderly.{{cite web |last1=Tonks |first1=Daniel |title=Weemote Sr. Remote Control Review |url=https://www.remotecentral.com/weemote/index5.htm |website=Remote Central |access-date=2 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=Senior-Friendly Television Remotes |url=https://savvysenior.org/article_20090427.htm |website=Savvy Senior |access-date=2 December 2023}}
Trademark violation claims against Nintendo
The term "Weemote" was originally trademarked in 2000 by Fobis Technologies.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1824499,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721004946/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1824499,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2008 |title=The Weemote vs. Wiimote Tiff |author=Padgett, Tim |date=2008-07-18 |magazine=Time |access-date=2008-08-01}} While spelled differently, the term "Weemote" is phonetically identical to "Wiimote", the unofficial term for the Wii Remote, Nintendo's controller for the Wii which debuted six years later in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/23/small-firm039s-weemote-came-first-steamrolled-nintendo039s-wiimote |title=Small Firm's Weemote Came First, But Steamrolled by Nintendo's Wiimote |date=2008-07-23 |work=GamePolitics.com |accessdate=2008-08-01}} Fobis Technologies claims this to be trademark infringement, however Nintendo does not actually use the term "Wiimote" in official promotional materials; many retailers that sell the Wii Remote do use the term. Fobis sent out up to 100 cease and desist letters to retailers and have made offers to Nintendo for them to purchase the trademark. Nintendo declined the offer, stating that it "does not use and does not plan to use the Weemote trademark".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/24/nintendo-comments-weemote-wiimote-flap-online-retailer-pressured |title=Nintendo Comments on Weemote-Wiimote Flap; Online Retailer Pressured |date=2008-07-24 |work=GamePolitics.com |accessdate=2008-08-01}}