Apple Sued for App Store Logo's Resemblance to Chinese Clothing Brand Logo

[zzmd]

When Apple released the updated App Store as part of iOS 11, the App Store logo got an overhaul. Instead of an "A" made from a pencil, a paintbrush, and a ruler, Apple designed a simpler "A" that looks like it's constructed from popsicle sticks.

As it turns out, Apple's App Store logo bears a resemblance to the logo used by a Chinese clothing brand named KON, and now KON is suing Apple.

According to Phone Radar (via The Verge), KON believes Apple's new logo is a violation of Chinese copyright law. KON is a brand that's been around since 2009, and as The Verge discovered, Baidu Baike, the Chinese equivalent of Wikipedia, says the KON brand was inspired by music like the Sex Pistols, with the logo meant to represent three skeleton bones symbolizing power over death.

KON wants Apple to publicly apologize for using its logo, stop selling devices using the current App Store logo, and pay compensation for economic loss.

The Beijing People's Court has accepted the case and should make a ruling over the course of the next couple of weeks.

Apple in 2016 lost a similar case involving the "IPHONE" trademark that was in use by Chinese leather goods manufacturer Xintong Tiandi Technology. In that case, Apple was aiming to protect its iPhone trademark to prevent Xintong Tiandi from using the iPhone name for its cases, but the Chinese courts ruled against Apple.

Article Link: Apple Sued for App Store Logo's Resemblance to Chinese Clothing Brand Logo

[doublepost=1513732430][/doublepost]Who cares. They’ve stolen so much technologies from others.

 

[apolloa]

I love it, the same people who screech with rage at Samsung for stealing icon designs are the same people defending Apple stealing an icon design.

Pretty much yes, Apple can do what ever it wants, but no one is allowed to copy Apple...

 

[applefan69]

Well, accidental infringement is still infringement. I hope the little guy (because all businesses are the "little guy" compared to Apple) wins.

The AppStore icon really makes Kon's logo look ridiculous.

I am pretty sure your trolling but I will agree this does make Kon's logo less impressive. Now its like some geeky thing only an app developer would wear.

That being said this lawsuit is still BS and Apple should win. Different industries, different implementations. Different everything & on top of that like springsup cleverly points out they have used this design for a long time.

I think it comes down to Kon picked a bad logo, trying to sue their problem away. Thats business baby. For their poor actions I think Kon's logo deserves to be ridiculed.

 

[zzmd]

Pretty much yes, Apple can do what vet it wants, but no one is allowed to copy Apple...

 

[szw-mapple fan]

A Chinese company is suddenly concerned about intellectual property protection. Ironic.

How is it ironic? Many Chinese companies that create ligitimate products suffer from copycats and copyright infringement as well. I think your comment is rather misguided.

 

[zzmd]

International law with regard to copyrights is tenuous and ambiguous.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Just change the icon then.

 

[jujufreeze]

A Chinese copyright claim? Like my mother-in-law suing me for gossiping

 

[rdd1]

I find it humorous that the Chinese, who pirate and steal from everyone, think that they can cause a stink when someone pirates and steals from them.

 

[macTW]

Sure. Rooting for an underdog is always fun, but I do hope that a smaller company with less cash flow is able to win a lawsuit against the largest company in world that has much more cash to give their lawyer team, whom only might win because they have more money to spend.

Please don't get offended and angry over anyone's post... it's not really worth it. Try contributing something worthwhile in response instead of making fun of the poster.

You think I was angry or offended...? Lol.

Just surprised someone would vote for a company without knowing any evidence purely because of size.

 

[gavroche]

YES! I was wishing Apple would change back to the old App Store logo, this one just looks hideous. Maybe this will push them over to do that.

Agreed. Don't like it either. But if they really wanted to keep it, they can make a cash offer to settle.. or tell em they will just go back. They can decide if the cash is worth it to them.
Valid argument aside.... what "economic loss" are they arguing that they incurred?

 

[a.gomez]

Same thing. When your logo can get confused with a random Chinese company time to trash it anyway.

 

[gavroche]

Apple Inc - steal ideas first, settle for a pittance later.

Then again considering Sir Jony Ive ripped off most of his ideas from Dieter Rams this theft isn't surprising.

What was it his mentor once said? Good artists copy, great artists' steal

Never miss a good opportunity to hate on Apple now do you...
I suppose guys like you have push notifications to alert you to any news negative to Apple, so you can go run to your keyboards!

 

[logicstudiouser]

I hope KON wins so Apple can go back to the old logo. The new app logo is so ugly.

 

[gavroche]

Well, accidental infringement is still infringement. I hope the little guy (because all businesses are the "little guy" compared to Apple) wins.

The AppStore icon really makes Kon's logo look ridiculous.

See post above yours.
And personally i think both look hideous.

 

[julesme]

The Apple AppStore logo (which is awful, by the way) really only resembles the other logo insofar as they both resemble the letter A and both have similar shapes. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the letter A and the shape in question (which is nearly ubiquitous) too common to be claimed by either party?

 

[JPack]

What was Apple thinking?

It's an exact copy. Even the proportions and angles are exactly the same.

An Apple intern probably copied KON's logo and the manager signed off without due diligence.

 

[gavroche]

So, because the government is corrupt and the copy right laws in the country show little to no respect to foreign companies the businesses in that country should just go without any protection at all? Don't be a hypocrite... No, I don't think damages should be payed, but I can see why the company would want the logo changed. Like someone else said: I see that hat, I think "Apple Store". Cases like that are exactly why trademark protection exists...

Please notice that he never said that there should not be protection. He merely said its Ironic. So no need to call him a hypocrite.

 

[Amplelink]

International law with regard to copyrights is tenuous and ambiguous.

I don't know that this has anything to do with international law. Seems to be all about Chinese law.

 

[JPack]

Apple has been using the logo way longer than that. Check out this screenshot of MacOS 10.0, from 2001 (notice the "Applications" icon):

The recent change is a natural evolution of that design. There's no way they should win.

EDIT: And yes, that is Internet Explorer.

The current icon looks nothing like the old one.

Angles and proportions are far different. Not sure what you're smoking.

 

[HappyMBAowner]

Economic loss??? They are gaining high exposure and free pub because of that.

 

[JosephAW]

I always thought it was an evolution of the AppleWorks icon to Application icon of pencil, paintbrush and ruler and now just three swishes.

 

[Zaqfalcon]

It's hardly a notable design.

 

[christo747]

Oh Johny...

Who is this that guy? Seriously. Should we know him?

 

[Wanted797]

"and pay compensation for economic loss."

loss? If anything it probably helped them in gaining popularity... just like this story. Which is probably all they wanted.