Apple’s at it again – suing the bejeezus out of somebody for using a similar apple motif to their logo claiming the logo is just like theirs. This time, the target of Apple’s legal beagles is the Vancouver based Victoria School of Business and Technology, which Apple claims is using a design that bears an unacceptable resemblance to the Cupertino-based electronics outfit’s famous logo. The school disagrees -
“Our logo is unique and distinguishable in numerous aspects from the Apple logo including the acronym ‘VSBT’ being part of our logo,” reads a statement by school president Dieter Gerhard. “Are you suggesting that anyone using any variation of an apple for technology education is infringing on Apple’s trademark?”
Well, yes Dieter, that’s pretty much what Apple is claiming, at least according to their lawyer Stephanie Vaccari who says the school’s new logo is “infringing Apple’s rights,” while also “falsely suggesting” Apple’s approval over the design. Here’s the kicker – VSBT is a large customer of Apple’s, with a significant segment of its labs hosting Apple products and ‘puters (though I suspect that’ll be changing in the near future).
I do think Apple has a point. The logo is extremely similar to their trademark (especially the leaf bit), and noting the irony, the logo may appear to some that Apple’s endorsing the joint, especially if the campus is laden with Apple computers. Also, there are certain nuances of trademark law that make it your responsibility to go after anyone who copies your goodies, lest it be seen that you’re giving tacit approval to the use. But I might also argue that this is a little on the penny-wise, pound-foolish side. The bad vibe Apple Inc. sends out will far outweigh any damages that, even if we take Apple lawyers at their word, might be caused.
Here’s a funny thing though. I was talking on the phone this afternoon with an old client, and he was telling me that he’d been duking it out with Apple over a logo that he (inserting legal weasel word) alleges the Cupertino outfit ahm, might have ‘borrowed’ from him. He had one word to describe Apple’s trademark legal team – “bastards”.
Related:
Meet the designer of the Apple Logo
Apple vs Apple
Apple vs. NYC
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[...] Victoria school forced to change apple logo. Via The Logo Factory. [...]
wow, that sucks for the school, looks like they’re switching to vista.. lol — naw but on a serious not, maybe they lost the stroke on the outside and middle and instead used it as white space, it would be completely different.. then maybe just add a different leaf on top leaning to the left..
good post