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Apple sues over China togs-trademark

malebolgia   on 10 March 2004 - 21:03 · 39 comments & 1437 views

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Apple legal is taking on China in a spat over trademark ownership for clothes. The computer company has launched legal action against China's trademark appraisal committee (Part of China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce). This follows the June 2003 rejection of Apple's request for trademark on its Apple logo on a range of clothing.

Apple's request was denied because Apple's logo is similar to that of the Guangdong Apples Industrial Co for its clothing, which is also trademarked. The two logos are pictured here. Apple accuses that company of making "illegal profits" through trademark infringement, according to the China Daily, which adds that the Chinese firm's Apple logo lacks the computer company’s ‘bite’ motif. The first hearing took place in the Beijing Intermediate People's Court yesterday. Apple asked the court to affirm that its Apple logo is "a famous one" and to approve its trademark.

News source: Macworld | UK


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Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 39 additional comments
(1 reply) #1 georgi55 on 10 Mar 2004 - 21:32
"The two logos are pictured here"

Where? Good job on copy & Pasting
#1.1 Test Zero on 11 Mar 2004 - 07:53
(1 reply) #2 Rishdeep on 10 Mar 2004 - 21:39
Check the link. I don't think they look that similiar. Sure...they're both apples, but Apple's has been bit into. And the other one hasn't. And the shape of the leafs are different. As is the colour (as it is shown there anyways). Enough of a difference for me.
#2.1 em_te on 11 Mar 2004 - 10:22
And also the old versions of Apple's logo. Lots of difference there too.
(6 replies) #3 jagedEdge on 10 Mar 2004 - 21:50
Gah, I'll have to say Apple is being extremely stupid on this one. Lots of people have similar logos. Doesn't mean they're the SAME. I tell ya, their Asia lawyers are really, really stupid.
#3.1 dp123 on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:36
You are confused. Apple was denied use of their trademark for clothes because of the Chinese company. Now Apple is suing for the right to use their trademark on clothes. Sounds like Apple is doing the right thing if you do not feel their trademark dilutes the Chinese companies, right?
#3.2 mayamaniac on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:44
Thats not what the article says.
#3.3 dp123 on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:57
Yes, it does. Would you like me to teach you how to read?
#3.4 bsarmir on 11 Mar 2004 - 01:05
QUOTE
Apple's request was denied because Apple's logo is similar to that of the Guangdong Apples Industrial Co

QUOTE
Apple accuses that company of making "illegal profits" through trademark infringement


If apple can't sell their shirts because of trademark infringment, sue the company for trademark infringment...makes sense.
#3.5 superfula on 11 Mar 2004 - 01:49
They aren't suing the company. They are suing the Chinese trademark office
#3.6 Mando on 11 Mar 2004 - 15:47
LMAO tell that to Mike Rowe Soft will you

exact same nonsense as that joke with MS back in Jan/Feb.

(and that was USA lawyers)
(2 replies) #4 jkrupa128 on 10 Mar 2004 - 21:58
They'll probably win though...
#4.1 mipra on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:59
Hmm...a company vs the people? well..I doubt it
#4.2 bsarmir on 11 Mar 2004 - 01:10
I thought it was a company vs a company?
edit: nevermind

Last edited by 41306 on 11 Mar 2004 - 19:02
(1 reply) #5 MR_Candyman on 10 Mar 2004 - 21:58
umm...not really even remotely similar...

they're apples, people, APPLES!!!! an apple is an apple unless it's a watermelon!
#5.1 mrbester on 11 Mar 2004 - 11:37
No, an Apple is an Apple unless it's an Apricot
#6 darksoul on 10 Mar 2004 - 21:58
give me a break.. those look nothing alike
(2 replies) #7 Marduk on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:25
Mac thinks they are cool as Windows now suing anything thats barely associated with their logo heh, next thing they'll sue mother natures for stealing the design of the logo.
#7.1 dp123 on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:37
You too are confused. Apple currently CAN'T use its trademark on clothes. It appears on their marketing, their hardware, etc... but they can't use it on clothes. They aren't trying to prevent the other company from using their own logo; they are suing for the right to use their OWN logo. Duh.
#7.2 gawdflesh on 11 Mar 2004 - 17:03
QUOTE
Apple accuses that company of making "illegal profits" through trademark infringement, according to the China Daily, which adds that the Chinese firm's Apple logo lacks the computer company’s ‘bite’ motif.


Wait...who's confused now? I'm confused about who is confused, which is confusing. That doesn't exactly sound like Apple is merely "sueing for the right to use their OWN logo", or maybe I need reading lessons as well? Please enlighten us, oh wise and omniscient one.



Still can't bring myself to care either way though.
(1 reply) #8 JHAres on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:31
"Scotty, beam me up, there's no intelligent life here..."
#8.1 mipra on 10 Mar 2004 - 23:00
lol...indeed
#9 mipra on 10 Mar 2004 - 22:59
Apple Stup**, Dont give it to China....China will make everything they meet. Goooo Chineseee people...
(2 replies) #10 aristotle-dude on 10 Mar 2004 - 23:00
Will you people please learn to read. Apple is trying to win the right to have their Apple logo on clothing sold in China. They were denied because this other newer company was using a similar logo on their clothing.
#10.1 mipra on 10 Mar 2004 - 23:01
that's my point....they are really so smart that they even copy the logo. Well...u've never been into bussiness with them... trust me...u'll see what I mean
#10.2 TrekXP on 10 Mar 2004 - 23:03
do you have a problem with chinese people?
#11 aznx on 11 Mar 2004 - 01:58
win a court case held in china? laughs......

and apple's claim is kinda bs...the chinese company sells leather products, why the he*l would it represent an apple product? being..macs, etc? O.o
(3 replies) #12 warr on 11 Mar 2004 - 02:19
are they the same?

damn. i see so many apples in the supermarket, but i never saw Apple sues them.
#12.1 JrDZ13 on 11 Mar 2004 - 02:54
u guys need to LEARN HOW TO READ THE ARTICLE!!!!!
#12.2 Magallanes on 11 Mar 2004 - 13:09
QUOTE (#12.1)
u guys need to LEARN HOW TO READ THE ARTICLE!!!!!

I read.. so what?.

#12.3 matric on 11 Mar 2004 - 23:41
QUOTE
u guys need to LEARN HOW TO READ THE ARTICLE!!!!!


You need to learn how to write correct English.
#13 nic on 11 Mar 2004 - 06:29
they look pretty different to me.

...waiting for another person to say to learn how to read in an immature maner...
#14 Magallanes on 11 Mar 2004 - 13:23
Chinese have reasons.

Apple will try to put a cloth trademark (image a name), but now exist a cloth company that use a apple and the name "apple" for sell clothes.

It's not completely related with logo also with the name. Think about lindows, the name is simmilar but the logo can be different. In this case Apple is similar to "Guangdong Apples Industrial Co". Of course Apple can win the case will changing the name (BITE for example), but they don't wanna it.
(2 replies) #15 YaZoR on 11 Mar 2004 - 13:25
OMG! STFU APPLE COMPUTERS!!

THEY'RE NOT EVEN SIMILAR APART FROM SHOWING AN APPLE!

GO SUE APPLE PIE MAKERS!
#15.1 indiedude on 11 Mar 2004 - 16:49
argh, why are people complaining about apple?! Apple arn't aloud to use their logo on clothes, which is why they are suing, to get the right to use it, but the trademark office is saying no beacuse they say it's too similar to the other company, not the other way around, like people said! -- read the artical! it's the trademark office that are saying "no it's too similar" not apple!
#15.2 NeoTrunks on 11 Mar 2004 - 17:51
Reminds me of all the people that thought Bill Gates was going to charge a penny to send email. Again, I want a dollar for everyone who doesn't read.
#16 gawdflesh on 11 Mar 2004 - 16:58
O N0eZ!!1! Now the chinese people are being deprived of wearing Apple Computers-branded gym socks and boxer shorts??!!!! The humanity!!!

Woopie.
(1 reply) #17 CloLoD on 11 Mar 2004 - 18:01
This one's for apple: http://lazylounge.net/AppleJoke/applejokelive.html

It's really funny...

*NOTE: only for broadband users
#17.1 gawdflesh on 11 Mar 2004 - 18:05
Honestly...that clip has just been run into the ground. Sorry if it's new to you, but that's been posted literally thousands of times on here before.

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