Apple Suing Woolworths Over Logo

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[H] News
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Apple has filed yet another trademark lawsuit, this time around it is against Woolworths. Click the link and take a look at that logo, does it confuse you in any way? Does it make you think Woolworths is Apple and vice versa?

Apple has mounted a legal challenge to prevent Woolworths from using the logo that now adorns its trucks, stores and products, arguing it is too close to its own. Apple will have to convince IP Australia, the federal government agency that governs trademarks, to knock back Woolworths's application - first filed in August last year - to trademark its logo.
 
I wouldn't have associated that with Apple. And why would Woolworth even desire that anyway? If people do get that impression, isn't that reason alone for W to change it?
 
lol wow.... just.... wow. What a great use of tax payers dollars
 
somebody needs to sue Apple for using a logo so common as an apple, then trying to say to everyone else you can't use an apple in your logo... geesh.

I guess I should form a company called 'sky' and make everyone pay to look at the sky. Or sue enyone who has ever used a cloud or moon or sun in their logo.
 
Apple Sucks!

424748.jpg
 
Every time I think about getting a Mac and an iPod Touch for development I know why I haven't.
 
First, it's a civil case not a criminal case.
Second, they both have plenty of money to pay lawyers and court costs.
Third, its in Australia.

So I don't know why the complaint of the use of tax payer dollars.
 
Apple, what a bunch of dumb asses. I hope they counter sue for a frivolous case and win big.

PS, I love my IPODs but hate Apple.
 
I don't see how anyone could associate that logo with Apple. I saw a "W" before I saw the apple. Got to love this.
 
First, it's a civil case not a criminal case.
Second, they both have plenty of money to pay lawyers and court costs.
Third, its in Australia.

So I don't know why the complaint of the use of tax payer dollars.

First, it's still a waste of court time, criminal or civil.
Second, then give it to charity and stop wasting money on frivolous cases such as this one.
Third, Aussie, US, Singapore, whatever. It's still a waste of time and their taxpayer money.
 
If there wasn't a stem on that "W", I dont think Apple would of brought about this lawsuit.
 
WoW! I thought woolies was closed havn't seen one in forever. BTW Apple can suk my!@#$!!!!
 
So.... if it resembles any kind of fruit that is round-ish with a stem then it is apple's property? Righhttt
 
Is this Australian Woolworth's the same Woolworth's that was in the states for....decades if not near 200 years now?

If so, doesn't just the fact that they've been around that long pretty well precede Apple. The logo looks nothing alike. The only part Apple could lay claim to is the little tab at the top of the logo. If WW flipped it around, then it'd totally shaft Apple's claim.

Regardless, I think Steve in his ailing health and the suits panicked about life after Jobs in the company are really grasping at straws on this one. Protecting your IP is fine imo, but this is starting to smell like Monster vs Monster Drinks, Monster cars, Monster Machine Laundry Detergent Inc.

You know what I'm sayin there?
 
Every time I think about getting a Mac and an iPod Touch for development I know why I haven't.
If you don't want to throw money at Apple to do iPhone/touch development, just buy a used Mac/touch. Problem solved :)
 
Just like the article says, they don't think Apple expects to win. With trademarks, you the defense of the trademark is up to the owner. If they don't try and defend the trademark, then when an actual real case comes up, Apple could loose.

They just go through the motions to prove that they have defended their trademark in the past, so when Apples Inc computer manufacturing does open, Apple can successfully sue for trademark infringement.
 
I would like to hear the lawyers in this case battle it out:


Apple Attorney: Your honor, this is a blatant trademark violation that can lead to confusion in the marketplace which damages and dilutes our brand value.

Woolworth Attorney: Ummm, the only similarities here is that we sell toilet paper and they are full of shi...

Apple Attorney: OBJECTION YOUR HONOR!!!!!
 
I would like to think it won't do Apple's rep much good, although that still has never stopped them selling stuff.
 
Looks like the OCP got caught up in the hype as well. Apple isn't suing Woolsworth for trademark infringement. They're simply filing their objections to Woolsworth new trademark registration. This is a very common occurence.
 
C'mon [H], I thought you were better than this...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/apple-woolworths-in-australian-trademark-dispute-media-in-hys/

Apple isn't "suing" the aussie woolworths (not the american woolworths that is now defunct...see below). They're opposing a copyright registration, which is different. While I can't stand anything apple/mac and steer my friends and family away from their products whenever possible, I do care about the truth, and in this case, apple is being unfairly portrayed. Do I think their opposition is justified? No. But it is well within their right to do so...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolworths

The Australian Woolworths Limited and its related businesses:

* Woolworths Limited is the largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand. Although named after the F.W. Woolworth brand, it has no relation.
o Woolworths (supermarket), a chain of supermarkets in Australia owned by Woolworths Limited​
o Woolworths Supermarkets (New Zealand), a New Zealand chain of supermarkets operating under a fascia, originally spun off from the Australian Woolworths Limited, and now under ownership again Woolworth Company (above), it has no other connection with its U.S. namesake​
 
somebody needs to sue Apple for using a logo so common as an apple, then trying to say to everyone else you can't use an apple in your logo... geesh.

I guess I should form a company called 'sky' and make everyone pay to look at the sky. Or sue enyone who has ever used a cloud or moon or sun in their logo.

When my patent for 1's and 0's comes through, I am going to sue all of you :D
 
Seriously what the fuck, is that the only way apple can stay in the eye of the public. And dont give me the iPhone and iPod shit they both suck.
 
When my patent for 1's and 0's comes through, I am going to sue all of you :D


I'd like to file a patent for using eye(s) to look at anything. So if you own two eyes(which most of you do), my patent will mean you have to pay license fee twice. Of course the patent includes animals beside human, so any pets, and I do mean any that has two eyes will have to have license fees paid for too. Note that putting a glass eye in place of a real one means you only have to pay the fee once. Isn't that a great incentive to have just one working eye? What's better if you won't to avoid paying any fee, braille is always available.

:D
 
Seriously what the fuck, is that the only way apple can stay in the eye of the public.
Investors like it when publicly-traded companies aggressively protect their trademarks, even if it seems frivolous to us. That's the only reason why Apple would bother.
 
All they have to do is show a filled in silloette of apple vs woolworth and it looks pretty close. Only the byte on the side in apple's logo is missing
(warning, super crappy few second job in paint follows)
filledinp.jpg
 
Well - I mean, if you look at it like that ^^ then it looks more like a tomato than a damned apple. Apple are a bunch of fucking morons. Honestly, that logo is a swirly fucking LINE. How can Apple even think that anyone would ever look at that and go "OMGTHATMUSTBEAPPLESNEWLOGO!!"?

Fucking Apple. Jeeze. :rolleyes:
 
Good work apple, keep reminding me why ill never buy your (superior) crap. MS would not bother with some crap like this.
 
This just in Apple Inc. to sue farmers for illegal infringement of their logo on millions of trees across the country!
 
Well - I mean, if you look at it like that ^^ then it looks more like a tomato than a damned apple.

Be fitting if Mac's logo was a tomater. That way when it's lagging being a quality PC, you can squash that little f-er and exclaim "ketchup!"

(okay, I admit, I just watched Pulp Fiction...)



Good work apple, keep reminding me why ill never buy your (superior) crap. MS would not bother with some crap like this.


You do realize MS now owns the number seven?

Question is, now that calendars have no sevens, how will this affect "Valve time?"
 
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