Corporate distrust of their trademarks and trademarks can lead to situations like the one Apple started having with Fruit Union Switzerland. This name may not mean anything to you, but it is the largest fruit company in Switzerland. And of course, their logo is a red apple on a white background..
This logo may be in trouble, as Cupertino has set itself a goal: to own the rights to any depiction of a generic Granny Smith apple realistically rendered in black and white. At Fruit Union Switzerland, they are already preparing for a good legal battle to defend their heritage of more than a century of history.
The apple, bitten and also unique
The organisation’s director, Jimmy Mariéthoz, has already protested that his logo does not resemble nor does he want to imitate Apple’s famous bitten apple. For her, the apple should be a symbol of public law, as it is universally known, and she does not see clearly the reason why Apple decides to sue any logo that symbolizes this fruit.
This is not the only dispute that has appeared at Apple recently: the brand name “Vision Pro” is in dispute in China since Huawei has kept this brand and owns it until 2031. Logically, the Chinese company will do anything to keep it or sell it to Apple for a fortune.
We will have to be attentive to the evolution of this war of registered trademarks. Apple usually wins them and has convictions in its favor in countries like Japan, Turkey, Israel or Germany. The bitten apple, for those of Tim Cook, must be the only recognizable apple in corporate logos.
Picture | Javier Balseiro
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