More than 100 years of using the apple as a symbol, an Association is about to change its logo because it is sued by Apple

Apple’s name is associated with the Apple logo and the company is trying to take legal action to confront all challenges related to its famous trademark. Not only does it block icons that resemble its logo, Apple’s legal team also claims icons related to the common apple.

A new Wired report shows that Apple is continuing its six-year legal battle against the Fruit Union Suisse, an association created more than 100 years ago to promote fruit growers in the US. Switzerland. The reason is not strange, the symbol of this Association is also an apple, but a complete apple instead of a half-bite like Apple’s apple.

The association’s director, Jimmy Mariethoz, said that for most of the 116-year existence of this association, the red apple logo with a cross inside was used and as a result, Apple’s claim of its logo. it’s weird.

“It’s very difficult for us to understand about this lawsuit (the lawsuit against Apple), because it doesn’t seem like they’re trying to protect their half-bitten apple logo. Their goal is to actually own it,” said Mr. Mariezthoz. owns the copyright to a real apple, which for us, is something that’s almost too common… it should be free to use for everyone.”

It is also no coincidence that Apple caused a legal battle against this Association. It is true that the image of a red apple with a cross inside has been the symbol of this association for nearly 100 years, but in 2011, on its 100th anniversary, the association edited it to same as it is today – a red apple with a white cross inside and a stem that has tilted slightly more than before.

It is still debatable whether the current logo resembles Apple’s logo to the point of confusing users, but it can be said that the icon is more similar to the Apple logo than the old one.

In 2017, Apple filed an application with the Swiss Intellectual Property Institute (IPI) to claim ownership of an image depicting a realistic black and white Granny Smith apple. It should be noted that, although the Fruit Union Suisse seems to only use the symbol in red, it is possible that in their copyright documents, which are printed in plain ink, it is displayed in 2 black colors. and white.

The IPI copyright protection document also requires Apple to state the case for this graphic icon, and Apple has submitted a long list of consumer electronics and digital devices.

At the end of 2022, IPI partially approved Apple’s claim in this legal battle, saying that the company could only have logo protection rights for certain categories it had submitted. The IPI Institute cites a legal principle that states that generic images of goods are generally in the public domain and are not protected. Apple is now appealing the ruling to gain protection for the remainder of its claim.

If Apple wins, this 111-year-old Swiss association will likely be forced to change its logo. The Wired report also says that Apple is making similar claims for its trademark globally. In 2021, a company called PrePear also had to edit its pear-shaped logo to end what it called Apple’s malicious attack on its logo.