Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Sues Movie Theater Chain With Similar 'Apple Cinemas' Name

Dr McKay said:
To be comparable, Apple would have had to to be involved in the movie industry before Apple Cinemas, Apple Cinemas existed before Apple Studios, and before any Apple Originals came out.

This example now would be more like if Apple Inc sued Apple Records instead.

You don’t generally go after companies using generic item names in their branding in industries you aren’t involved in, and it’s pretty poor sport to go into an industry at a later date and then start legal action against a company that’s been in that industry longer than you have.
Click to expand...

It's not just about who came first. Trademark brand suits tend to look at if one company is trying to use a larger. more popular, more established brand in order to boost their brand.

Apple Inc. is the clearly more established brand in this case. And they have a case to be made that this cinemas chain is trying to closely associate themselves with Apple Inc. to make people think that Appel Inc. owns this theater chain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Krizoitz, ronntaylor, raybo and 5 others
Glideslope said:
Pathetic posts in here. This infant theater knew exactly what they were doing, and had ample opportunities to change their logo. Stop with hyperbolic comments. It’s like Reddit in here….
Click to expand...

I think it's the logo more than anything else that caught Apple Inc. attention. It's about as brazen of a copyright infraction that you are going to see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: raybo, jlc1978, Glideslope and 3 others
ryanmp said:
Yes you are right, which is why Apple paid two settlements and then ultimately purchased the rights. So this is a perfect example of a company protecting its trademark. Exactly what Apple is now doing
Click to expand...
actually no, because apple didn't enter this space until 2019, years after the original company. similarly, apple didn't get totally owned by Apple Corp until they entered the music space -- a violation of their prior settlement

the idea apple can enter any space and then retroactively sue someone because they later became part of that space is a bit absurd..
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
  • Haha
Reactions: Krizoitz, System603, cupcakes2000 and 5 others
scoony said:
When I first saw the cinemas logo, I did wonder if it was apple. That logo does them no favours. If it’s true that people have commented on the cinemas website believing it to be part of apple then that will cause them issues. If I walked past a such a place in London I too would think it’s part of Apple Inc.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah…

Dead ringers…

Apple-Cinemas.jpg
1754154023835.png


Are you seriously suggesting these two look the same?

Who could possibly be confused?
 
  • Like
  • Love
  • Disagree
Reactions: nrose101, freedomlinux, Oblivious.Robot and 11 others
So that’s why there was no Apple's in my grocery store last week.
Delivered directly to Apple Park c/o Cook.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: nrose101
jmonster said:
actually no, because apple didn't enter this space until 2019, years after the original company. similarly, apple didn't get totally owned by Apple Corp until they entered the music space -- a violation of their prior settlement

the idea apple can enter any space and then retroactively sue someone because they later became part of that space is a bit absurd..
Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with Apple getting into another industry space. This is trademark infringement. This cinemas chain took Apple's logo and basically stole its design elements and slapped it on its own name. You can't do that.

It's like somebody starting a hot dog chain called Apple Hot Dogs and taking Apple's popular, iconic trade mark Apple logo and putting it next to their name. Apple doesn't have to be in the business of selling hot dogs to stop somebody from doing that,
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Jumpthesnark, ronntaylor, System603 and 3 others
I am so confused when doing groceries, aren't apples sow and grown and harvested and sold by Apple in some way?. I can get an iPhone in the grocery store, no?, why my apple has no USB port?, can I get a red delicious iPhone?.
So confused, apple should sue apple farmers for confusing me!.
 
  • Haha
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: hagen_o_hagen, cupcakes2000, munpip214 and 4 others
While I might be shocked, if Apple actually goes after all parts of the world trying to make word “Apple” illegal to mention to describe the fruit 🍎, then sue all supermarkets, fruit stalls, or even small shops selling apple juice out of business, then rapidly expanding to Apple production industry, as well as producing juice, selling edible apple and all of that, I would not be surprised.

Just expand wide and far across any industry that might have any use of apple and sue all other businesses out of existence. I’m very sure this inedible tech giant “headquartered in USA” will eventually do so.
 
SeaFox said:
Apparently Apple is in the same corporate-lifespan "be evil" stage Google entered some time ago.
Next is the end of innovating and the beginning of just using vendor lock-in and litigating as a business model, like Oracle.
Click to expand...
Instead of releasing hardware products, Apple would be sending out cease and desist letters to anyone even including any number of a p l e in their trademarks, and expand to any and all industries using fruit 🍎 in any way shape or form.
 
I know you all are dismissing it, but i do kinda see some level of intent here. Apple TV, Apple Studios...Apple Films, Apple Cinemas....
 
Apple Valley Mall Cinemas

“Located in the Apple Valley Mall Shopping Center. This theater originally opened by Esquire Theatres of America as Apple Valley Mall Cinemas, a three-screen second-run venue on August 26, 1970. It remained such until additional screens were added over the years.

The place was closed for a long stretch in the 1990’s, then on April 30, 1993 it re-opened under National Amusements management as the Apple Valley Cinemas, at first with a discount second-run policy and more recently with first run showings at regular prices.

In 2007, it was operated by the independent Trademark Cinemas chain. By 2010, it had been taken over by Cinema Holdings, but was closed by November 2010. It was gutted internally and had become a Planet Fitness gymnasium by 2013.”
 
  • Like
Reactions: ronntaylor and wyliej
Octavius8 said:
I am so confused when doing groceries, aren't apples sow and grown and harvested and sold by Apple in some way?. I can get an iPhone in the grocery store, no?, why my apple has no USB port?, can I get a red delicious iPhone?.
So confused, apple should sue apple farmers for confusing me!.
Click to expand...

People don't expect to find actual banana's at Banana Republic. No confusion there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nrose101, Jumpthesnark and citysnaps
This is completely valid for Apple and practically mandatory. Trademarks must be defended or your lack of defending them will be used against you when others infringe.

Trademarks are scoped both by business type and by locality. A regional business may retain rights to a name but may not be able to expand nationally using the same. Certainly Apple was selling movies on iTunes before 2013 so they have precedence. And Apple had to pay lots of money and come to a settlement with Apple Records when they started selling music because Apple Records had priority.

Anybody notice how America’s Tire Company and Discount Tire Company are the same company but named differently by region. I remember an employee telling me that when they expanded nationally they ran into other “Discount Tires” in some states so they had to use an alternate name.

Apple would be remiss in not defending their trademark here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ethosik, Krizoitz, ronntaylor and 7 others
NoCleverSNForMe said:
Wait, so you're with Apple Cinemas here?

Apple has a film/studio arm. If F1 played at this theater, you'd be watching an Apple Studios film at an Apple Cinemas. Don't you think the average consumer wouldn't be able to figure out that they're two different companies?
Click to expand...
Apple Cinemas existed many years before Apple Inc. established Apple Studios.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Jumpthesnark
NoCleverSNForMe said:
Wait, so you're with Apple Cinemas here?

Apple has a film/studio arm. If F1 played at this theater, you'd be watching an Apple Studios film at an Apple Cinemas. Don't you think the average consumer wouldn't be able to figure out that they're two different companies?
Click to expand...
Apple Cinemas existed many years before Apple Inc. established Apple Studios.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Jumpthesnark
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back