“Woolworths’ recently introduced logo is a stylised W resembling a piece of fruit (echoing its ‘fresh food people’ slogan),” Stephen Withers reports for iTWire. “But Apple thinks the new logo is too similar to the stylised apple design it has used in various forms and colours since the early days of the company.”
“Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem. Trade marks are granted for specific categories of products and services, allowing Hyundai and Microsoft to use the same trade mark (Excel) for a car and a computer program,” Withers reports. “But Woolworths is trying to register its logo as a trademark in Class 9 (among others), which includes ‘apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images… calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers… computer devices and computer peripheral devices… [and] computer hardware and software.'”
“Apple has products in all of those categories,” Withers reports. “Another issue is that Apple already uses its logo to identify its retail stores.”
Full article here.
Julian Lee reports for The Age, “Apple will have to convince IP Australia, the Federal Government agency that governs trademarks, to knock back Woolworths’ application – filed in August last year – to trademark its logo.”
“Woolworths’ application includes a wide class for electrical goods and technology, putting it in direct competition with Apple should the retailer choose to brand computers, music players or other devices,” Lee reports. “Woolworths has gone into credit cards and mobile phones, so the likelihood of it going into computers is not too remote.”
“Trademark lawyer Trevor Choy said it was common for Apple to prevent others from using anything that resembled an apple in a logo or marketing,” Lee reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Clearly, Apple is right to protect themselves against the possibility of Woolworths slapping said logo on some random phones, music players, PCs and/or other electronic devices and potentially confusing consumers and diminishing decades of hard work and money that Apple has invested in their brand’s logo – one of the most valuable in the world.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Judge Bork” for the heads up.]
Apple jus needs to calm down… N focus on what’s relevant.
Now I wonder if this business will go the same way as the UK chain of the same name: bust.
Honestly, if you muck up marketing like that, who will trust you to buy from you? Zune users?
If the W logo doesn’t appear on computers and iPhones, then Apple should take a cold shower.
Apple gettin a lol carried away what’s next sueing Washington state for growning apples?
Wrong! Guarding their trademark is one of the most important things Apple, or any other company, can do.
Um, did you chowderheads *read* what was in the article? Including the snippet about Woolworth’s wanting to register this logo such things as ‘apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images… calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers… computer devices and computer peripheral devices… [and] computer hardware and software’? Seems like Apple is, at the very least, right to be concerned about this.
Woolworth is still in business? LOL
Can’t believe Apple is wasting their time…
MacItnosher,
Woolworths is a highly successful and profitable Australian retailer. Australian consumers focus more on price and retailing experience and I bet “Woolies” can afford millions to convince Oz consumers about such a change
Woolworth? Is this the same company that used to be in California?
I thought they died off like the dinosaurs.
This is ridiculous. God created the apple, not Apple Inc.
If you people learn to read, Apple is in the right with this one.
@XJM: You apparently didn’t read the article. This may be the most important trademark suit that Apple has ever pursued in its history as a company, because of what Woolworth’s is trying to do with the (very similar-looking) logo.
I would’ve said Apple is tainting their brand by this stupid stuff but if indeed woolworth does intend to put the logo on said electronic items, that is coming too close. Good catch that Apple caught it so quick
Hmm. Thought Woolworth was bought up by some shoe company in the states. Yep, they are known as Foot Locker.
It appears a separate company overseas licensed the name for their retail stores.
I initially thought..Big Deal…but if it is in electronics, then it makes sense for Apple to tell them to take a long walk off a short pier.
It would take a pretty hefty idiot to confuse those two logos. I’m sorry, but this is ridiculous.
Take the little stem thing off the top and good to go. I see the W but why the little stem thing? It is not relevant except to bring about possible confusion.
Will the Woolworth’s computers come with the “sosumi” alert?
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Is this the same Woolworth that many years ago was a department store like KMart?
this logo has been around for at least 18months
apple you are too slow
but right to stop it
This is the Australian Woolworths and has NO connection with the US or UK Woolworths. Woolworths are Australia’s largest retailer, recording just under $4 billion profit last year.
Nevermind, I wiki’ed it and answered my own question.
I submit that anyone who could EVER confuse Apple’s logo with the one which Woolworth’s is proposing needs to get their eyes examined.
If the W had a bite out of it, Apple’s apparent anger might be justified. But, since I doubt that even a drunk colorblind person would confuse the two logos as currently designed, Apple’s legal department needs to calm down!
PS: I hope that Apple’s rainbow-style logo makes a comeback in the near future…
This is crazy. If you look at a Woolworths store in Australia or even their website (http://woolworths.com.au/) .. The ‘W’ logo always has the words Woolworths next too it. There is no way you can confuse the logos.
Thinker u hit the nail on the head!! Imma ditch my iPhone for a label!!!!! Yessss!!