Apple sometimes likes to shoot itself in the foot, like its refusal of video game streaming services who could give ammunition to regulators in their antitrust investigations. Another even more absurd example: the relentlessness of the company and its lawyers to protect the Apple logo. Including when the incriminated logo maintains only a very distant relationship with that of the Californian group.
Apple is therefore in legal war against Prepear, a shopping list and meal prep app developed by Super Healthy Kids. The mastodon opposes the filing of the Prepear brand, which represents a pear. No one could seriously confuse this logo with that of Apple, which however requires a change in the design of the mark.
This is not the first time that Apple has pressured small businesses or organizations to change their logo deemed too close to that of Apple. The last time, it was against Apfelroute, a cycle path in Germany, and here too the resemblance was not particularly striking (read: Can we still use an apple in a logo?).
« Before attacking us », Explains Prepear in his online petition, « Apple has opposed dozens of trademarks registered by SMEs with fruit in their logos. Many of these logos have been changed or discontinued. Many small businesses can’t afford to spend tens of thousands of dollars to fight Apple ».
Prepear had five employees, and the legal costs associated with its struggle to be able to create and use its own logo without fear of a complaint ” have already cost us several thousand dollars and the very sad layoff of a member of our team “. The company feels a ‘ moral obligation ”to stand up to Apple, and intends to keep its logo as it is. “We are defending ourselves against Apple not only to keep our logo, but also to send the message to big tech companies that bullying of small businesses has consequences. ».
The petition has reached 10,000 signatures.
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