As part of a legal manoeuvre worthy of Monster Cable, Apple has set its lawyers on Australia’s largest supermarket chain because their new logo is a little tad too similar to their own.
Exhibit A, Woolworths newly redesigned logo, is on the left. Apple’s iconic apple logo is on the right. Not that similar at all, but the real issue, at least with Apple, is probably that Woolworths might expand its retail business into electronics and somehow threaten that lucrative iPod business.
“While we can’t rule [computers, musical players, or other devices]out, we haven’t got any plans at the moment,” said a Woolworths spokesman in a statement to AppleInsider.
To Apple’s credit, they’ve moved up from suing school systems to supermarket megachains. Bigger fish, and all that. [AppleInsider]
Andrew
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:16 PMUmm . . . Wow,
Really Apple? Woolworths?
Stumpster
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:39 PMGreat work on the image there… MS Paint?!
Elly Hart
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 11:11 PMBetter?
Molokov
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:59 PMI always thought the new Woolworths logo looked more like a pumpkin than an apple. A green pumpkin. Yeah, I know, I’m stupid.
Eshu
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 11:12 PMI’d say this was hard to believe, but it’s Apple. Kind of like expecting the “Church” of Scientology not to sue you when you use inverted commas over the word “church”.
Jason
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 11:47 PMI don’t know if my knowledge of our legal system is up to scratch… but can’t Apple only take action under trademark law if the entity they’re taking action against is in the same industry as them? Which Woolworths are most assuredly not!
Also, really Apple? You want to own the image of an apple, however it’s drawn? Why not start suing 6 year olds who draw apples when asked to draw something starting with A. That’s almost as bad as ANZ owning the colour blue and Cadbury owning the colour purple.
glennc
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 9:37 AMask monster cables about that one
Matt (Sydney)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7:58 AMThis is the most ridiculous thing! I can’t believe such an innovative company can be so stupid. Who has the right to ownership over natural elements? Apple think THEY created green apples now?? Besides, the Woolies logo looks more like peeled apple to me.
I have NEVER bought anything from Apple because of their aggressive cult-like practices.
Wade_oh
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7:59 AMI can understand why Apple is worried, Woolworths does own one of Australia’s largest electronic chains ‘Dick Smith Electronic’ and they did remove the ‘Dick Smith’ logo last year.
It wouldn’t be hard to imagine woolworth eventually bringing all its stores under one umbrella eventually.
Especially since ‘Walmart’ is trying to get their foot into the Australian market. If they do Woolworth would have to open a similar competitive store to try and keep their market share.
Simon Church
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 8:06 AMI never even noticed,even though I drove past millions of their trucks. With a closer look it does look very similar- will be interested to see how this pans out
Sam
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 8:21 AMI think they’re just covering their arses. If Woolworths redesigns their logo in the future to look closer to the Apple logo, there’ll be record of Apple defending their logo in the past.
Andy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 8:37 AMGood grief. If and maybe if Woolies logo had a bite out of their apple on the right, Apple might have a case. But to claim that no other company can use an apple for their logo? Apples only have one shape. Get used to it Apple. An apple is an apple is an apple!
Me
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 10:20 AMYou are all wrong.. it’s a green “W” :P
Mic Cullen
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 10:59 AMStupid, even for Apple.
JB
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 11:17 AMSo when is Apple going to sue the apple growing industry? Don’t their products look just like Apple’s logo?
Maybe the apple growers should sue Apple for using their product as a logo?
Bennish
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 2:07 PMActually, it IS a ‘W’ stylized to look like produce. Nothing wrong with that.
Again, this highlights the point people have been making – Apple is no different from any other ‘evil’ company. None of them (inclusing MS) are really evil. But Apple’s no saint. About time people started noticing.
Cheshire Cat
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 9:58 PMThis is right up there with ugh boots and chocolate crackles. thankfully hey shouldn’t win and will just lose money and look like douchebags.
If pharmaceutical companies think they can patent MY genes why wouldn’t apple think they can own all apples. patent/copyright law needs a major overhaul globally.
Keith Drain
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 1:30 AMIf a company invests time and money in something and then innovates something new from it regardless of the industry then it should be able to protect its investment with a patent. The way you say “MY genes” makes it sound like they ripped your hair out and used your specific set of genes. Anyway the whole “big pharma is evil” line is old and really untrue.
Spose you oppose vaccinations to.
In regards to the article Apple is being ludicrous as has been mentioned previously the “apple” in question is a stylised “W” and really all Apple is doing is protecting its trademark even though it has no case. It is silly but they obviously feel the need to do it. They should lose in court though. I don’t think that Woolworths is going to bend over in this one.
blame it on today tonight
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 11:51 AMyeah, i’m pretty sure it’s the fault of everyone’s favourite current affairs show… today tonight (maybe a current affair). they had a segment on the old guy who created the new woolworths image. then when asked about his favourite logo of all time, he said he liked the apple logo the best.
Ian Exaudi
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 12:57 PMThis just in … Apple sues God/Universe over creation of fruit that resembles their logo … Duh – WTF?!
Ron
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 6:55 AMThe fundamental differences in these two logos, that all professional logo designers are aware of, should mean a “win” for Woolsworth. The Apple logo is a common shape we know as an apple. Yet, just to name one difference, the Woolsworth logo is subliminally a “W” and an apple.