“Apple Inc. sued Amazon.com Inc., saying the online retailer is improperly using Apple’s ‘App Store’ trademark for a mobile software developer program,” Edvard Pettersson reports for Bloomberg.
“Apple, in a complaint filed March 18, accused Amazon.com of trademark infringement and unfair competition and asks for a court order to prevent the company from using the ‘App Store’ name as well as for unspecified damages,” Pettersson reports.
“Amazon.com since January has started to solicit developers for a future mobile software download service, Apple said,” Pettersson reports. “Amazon.com has used ‘Amazon Appstore Developer Portal’ and ‘Amazon Appstore’ in connection with this service, according to the complaint.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Ellis D.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Microsoft seeks to dismiss Apple’s ‘App Store’ trademark brief because font is too small – March 9, 2011
Apple accuses Microsoft of hypocrisy in App Store trademark dispute – March 1, 2011
Microsoft files objection to Apple’s ‘App Store’ trademark – January 12, 2011
Apple awarded trademark for ‘There’s an App for That™’ – October 11, 2010
See? Apple has App Store and Amazon has Appstore. Two different things. No case here! By the way, I’m selling franchises for Mcdonaldshamburgers.
That analogy works like using a colander to carry water.
LOL…true and funny analogy…
I actually think the analogy is quite valid. If you opened a dept. store and named it Penny’s, guaranteed you would get sued by J.C. Penny’s even though you eliminated two letters.
Apple may have even gone after them if they used “App” in any way, but there are other words for store that may have prevented this. App Depot, App outlet, App boutique, App emporium; App supermarket, even App superstore or App megastore may have been proven enough different to prevent the “consumer confusion” that is likely cited in the legal complaint.
Actually it’s Penney’s 🙂
I’m going to open a online store called Amazonkindle and wait to see what happens.
I’ll open zoon market place and noone will care
That is some serious c***-styling, right there.
And don’t forget that Apple was first use Application and Documents instead of Program and Files
I sure hope they make those “unspecified damages” hurt. I’m sure Amazon knew full well that Apple would sue over this. They decided the free exposure to their developer program was worth the risk. Did anyone know/care about the Amazon developer program before this?
About time Apple starts putting the hammer down on these copy cats. Ragnarok is coming you basterds! 😉
Have you read Ignatius Loyola Donnelly?
Apple was awarded the trademark for App Store in 2010. Why would Amazon think that they could infringe on that trademark? Really dumb move.
Wasn’t it Amazon who patented the one-click shopping experience? I seem to recall them going after anyone who was wanting to have a similar process in their own store, including Apple. If my memory is correct, it seems fitting that Apple would now deal them some of their own medicine
Amazon AppStore sounds like Amazon Apple Store.
Man, Apple has officially turned into Microsoft.
Every day more and more people are hating them, Keep suing Apple !!!
It’s the M$ and Gorgoil drones that hate Apple, because they are ignorant of Apple and still live in the medieval dungeons of said companies.
Let’s settle this dispute once and for all. Here are the facts as I know them, not being a lawyer, but a computer user:
1. “.app” has been the file extension for Applications on a Mac since OSX, maybe before.
2. Apple has always named software programs as “Applications” since the Macintosh was introduced.
3. Microsoft has always named them “Programs” or “executables” and the file extension has always been .exe
Is it a coincidence that “app” is part of Apple? Applications, and apps, and .app has always been Mac naming conventions.
Programs, executables, .exe has always been Microsoft naming conventions.
Apple is just being consistent with their naming, unlike Microsoft, and of course Google and others are just hopping on the bandwagon with naming them Apps now. Didn’t the USPTO award Apple the phrase, “There’s an App for that” sometime last year?
Apple should be rightfully allowed to trademark “App” and “App Store”. Let Microsoft call their store “Program Store” or “exe Store”.