Ah Apple, first major company to hop on the Podcast bandwagon. Unfortunately for us, they want to own it too. On September 4th 2005, Apple filed for a trademark on the term "iPodcast" its last-ditch attempt to make podcasting proprietary.
The first filing covers hardware-related goods, namely "computers, computer peripherals, hand held computers, computer terminals, personal digital assistants, electronic organizers, electronic notepads, apparatus for recording, transmission and reproduction of sounds, images, or other data; magnetic data carriers."
The second filing covers services, including "telecommunications services; communication by computer, computer intercommunication; telex, telegram and telephone services; rental, hire and leasing of communications apparatus and of electronic mailboxes; electronic bulletin board services," etc.
So amidst the legal mumbo-jumbo one can only hope that the medium of Podcasting continues to grow, sans threats from Apple Legal.