To be honest, Apple TV predates the Apple Cinema by 6 years, if that's the standard... First gen AppleTV was launched in 2007.
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Apple Sues Movie Theater Chain With Similar 'Apple Cinemas' Name
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Yea, but previously they existed locally. Now that they're going nationwide, it's a whole different story. Apple has EVERY right to bring this lawsuit!!! I never heard of Apple Cinema before today. Upon first reading the name in this post, I initially assumed it was a new Apple venture. But it wasn't.
Apple Cinema has never been humbled by the EU.
Apple is in the movie distribution business but not the restaurant business. Trademark registration requires selecting one more “classes” (industries) in which your mark applies. Also, if you don’t defend your trademark you can lose it.
Call it Core Cinemas and have a fully eaten apple down to the core. Then bad mouth the company any time anyone asks why they changed their name.
Ok, I've seen this reason a lot and I can accept it as something that makes sense. It just seems so petty and kind of predatory to me though. Trillion Dollar Company going after a small business. As for the logo's they look nothing alike.
Law is based on precedent. If this is OK, then what's next? Every company has to protect their brand. Maybe some watch company can call themselves IBM watch company - right?Oh yeah…
Dead ringers…
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Are you seriously suggesting these two look the same?
Who could possibly be confused?
Everyone with the same joke. Exhausting.
I don’t get how this is possible in the US.
Apple is quite a common word. I mean if it was a made up one like Microsoft, Toyota, Lexus, IBM, TikTok … but Apple?
No common words should be able to be trademarked. Period.
It’s not that the word became famous because of the company. I mean, a guy on a fruit diet, goes to an apple farm, comes back and suggests to his partner, Apple to be the name of their company.
Even though I totally understand Apple position. It makes no sense that one can own the use of these words for any purpose.
Apple is quite a common word. I mean if it was a made up one like Microsoft, Toyota, Lexus, IBM, TikTok … but Apple?
No common words should be able to be trademarked. Period.
It’s not that the word became famous because of the company. I mean, a guy on a fruit diet, goes to an apple farm, comes back and suggests to his partner, Apple to be the name of their company.
Even though I totally understand Apple position. It makes no sense that one can own the use of these words for any purpose.
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Me too. Also, if I were the judge I would make excessive use of the gavel, refer to myself as "the court" at every opportunity and, on April Fools Day, I'd show up in one of those white powdered wigs like the judges wear in England.
Unfortunately this is one of those trademark issues that makes Apple look like the big bad guy when they are just trying to protect their IP from future theft. US trademarks are a broken system that Apple must engage through lawsuits, otherwise counterfeit Apple Cinemas could appear and confuse consumers and Apple would have no legal recourse because they didn't defend it. Obviously, this also means that Apple is looking into brick and mortar theater chain building and wants to nip counterfeit theaters in the bud.
Apple has been distributing movies since 2006. Film and TV production isn’t even the relevant business for comparison, given the cinema chain is an exhibitor. Makes no difference anyway, as they’re all in the same trade mark class.
This is kinda blatant if you ask most people. I just looked at the list of the 14 cinemas….all 14 are located within New England (and 2 in New York) so I don’t know what they thought was going to happen when they opened a new location smack in the middle of San Francisco?!?
They probably would’ve been fine had they just stuck to the northeast (and eastern part of the US)
lol anywhere in the US (EXCEPT) San Fran - that’s just a dumb (and provocative) business decision on Apple Cinemas’ part
Apple Cinemas existed before Apple TV (the service, not the device). If anything, shouldn't Apple Cinemas be suing Apple Inc.?
The story is hilarious, of course, people complain. Apple is too generic an idea to claim only Apple.com has the rights to it. People are going to jump all over the story and crap all over it.
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The problem isn't with the name Apple Cinemas. If Apple Cinemas had stayed in the Northeast where I am assuming they are regionally recognized, Apple Inc. wouldn't be suing. It is because they are increasing their footprint nationally that is creating the problem.
I'm wondering if everyone on this forum is five years old.
I can't wait for Tim and friends to sue New York City for calling itself "The Big Apple"