Apple is suing Swiss fruit farmer over a decades-old apple logo
Over the years, Apple has submitted trademark applications in dozens of countries to own the generalized image of 'apples.'
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10 replies
Christ, it's not even close. Next they'll sue them for selling apples.
Wow, not close at all. If Apple wins this that means pretty much no one can use any kind of apple for their logo. That's not fair.
it's like they replaced their lawyers with a ML model, the AI said "iconography of an apple" and it crapped out a lawsuit.
Apple is a bunch of arseholes. Won't see a sent from you pricks.
Sadly this is more a symptom of how trademark law works. There's a "use it or lose it" aspect that compels brands to fiercely, overzealously defend their logo against any that look even remotely similar, or they risk losing their hold over it.
Brands don't do it for their own satisfaction; really the bad press it can generate is often enough to see any case dropped — but what matters is that they show an effort to 'defend' their trademark.
Trademarks are for a specific line of trade, though, as the name implies. Apple isn't in the fruit or food business at all as far as I know. Not sure whether this is different in the EU (or Switzerland, which I guess isn't part of the EU).
Their application doesn't list any businesses related to agriculture.
I view apple not as badly as Nestle but definity getting up there
How hard would it be for the farmer to fight this?
*Century old
If anything, the farmer should be suing Apple.