Apple Sues Swatch Over 'Tick Different' Marketing Campaign

[8692574]

Apple should sue :

Copperfield for using the word "Magic™"
Shell for using the word "Pipelines™"
Lines for using the word "Pad™"
Marvell for using the word "Amazing™"
MTV for using the word "TV™"
Sony for using the word "Play™"
Meucci for using the word "Phone™"
The Romans for using the letter "i™"
All airlines using the word "Air™"

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

any similarity with Apple is purely coincidental

Purely? Eh...

to be a response to IBM's slogan "Think"

Think Karma, Apple.

"iSwatch"

Uh, no.

 

[jamesloker]

Apple used to be better than this.

Petty. Half the time it isn't the companies doing it, its the lawyers trying to give reason for their employment while at the same time making the darkening the company's name with stupid little lawsuits. Granted Apple went after Microsoft for copying the idea of things like the wastebasket and GUI in general. But this about the Tick Different....what do the apple lawyers honestly get out of this B.S.

 

[kyjaotkb]

There we are, bigger watch company suing smaller watch company.

 

[Guy Clark]

This really is nothing short of pathetic.

Does this really mean no other company/corporation is permitted to use the word 'Different" at the end of their advertising campaigns?

All Apple are good for now is producing ladies handbag fashion accessories such as the latest iPhones or inferior Macs such as the latest MacBook Pro.

The rot will shortly be complete when Apple bastardise the iMac.

From a disgruntled Mac user.

 

[itsmilo]

if it's only for Switzerland, it shouldn't be in English. From 4 official languages in Switzerland, none of them is English. It's obvious they're leeching on Apple's slogan.

Everything sounds "cooler" in english if you ask german marketing

 

[Chupa Chupa]

There we are, bigger watch company suing smaller watch company.

Apple is suing Swatch. As far as purely watches go, Swatch Group is the largest in the world, even Apple, and maker of well respected high end brands Blancpain, Omega, Breguet, and Longines among others.

Apple is a bigger company over all both in revenue and employment, but Swatch Group is no slouch or defenseless deer.

 

[redheeler]

Likely the ones who have owned the registered Trademark on "Think Different" since 1997. In Trademark law, if you don't defend your mark against diluting by other companies you risk losing it. "Tick" and "Think" may mean different things but differ by two letters. I can entirely see why they had to protect their mark here.

When was the last time Apple has used the "Think Different" slogan anywhere? To this I say, either use it or lose it.

 

[MH01]

"Hayek claimed that the "Tick Different" slogan has its origins in an 80s Swatch campaign that used the phrase "Always different, always new", and says that any similarity with Apple is purely coincidental. "

Nope.

As one of the most un bias posters on here.... how could I disagree

In Swatch's defence , would any of apples current user base even know what the "think different" campaign was?? Most were not even born, nor am I aware of an emoji for think different !

 

[alexgowers]

Is it not fair use when it's a joke and apple hasn't used the campaign or phrase for almost 30 years!

 

[2010mini]

The money could be better spent on solving domestic issues.

Don't recall us electing Apple to the White House or congress. Apple has an obligation to their shareholders, customers and employees. Domestic issues are for government and society to solve.

 

[now i see it]

"Litigation" is Apple's last name. I thought everyone knew that.

 

[scuac]

The fundamental problem at the root of all these type of conflicts is the completely degenareted trademark regulations that allow companies to trademark trivial common phrases ("think different", "just do it", etc.). Being allowed to trademark such things is utter nonsense.

 

[8692574]

Quick let's sue Koh-i-noor for the word Pencil!!!

 

[dysamoria]

This is petty. This slogan will not harm Apple. They should lose this.

 

[Kabeyun]

I wonder if the haters here also had a problem with Swiss Rail accusing Apple of copying their clock face look. The door swings both ways.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

That is so true! There are so many better worthwhile endeavors, too. Many of these would be better for PR. This just makes Apple look even more desperate and petty!

Legally marks must be defended or lost. There's no choice here.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Typical Apple, another knee-jerk reaction to a threat. I say good on Swatch - they've always been quirky.

Besides, I can't help but wonder how many people actually remember, or even know of, the 'Think Different' slogan inside Apple's demographic.

 

[jasonklee]

One of these days Apple will fall on their own sword, What kind of petty minded fools thinks they own the English language? Btw a real watch will last a hell of a lot longer than these crappy apple watches

Exactly. I'm currently being sued by some big-time atheist for "stealing" lines from his TV show and using them in my book. No one owns the English language. I look forward to winning in court.

Also, Apple Watch should be called Crapple Watch. Ha ha ha.

 

[satchmo]

Some people feel this way about the Apple watch...

Thick. Indifferent.

 

[adamjackson]

Good. Too many companies rip off Apple for many years (remember when every appliance maker started using colored translucent plastic after the original iMac came out?) Mobile phone makers, watch makers, car companies. They're all ripping off Apple.

I hope they win.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Should've gone with: "Tick Differently"...?

This is what gives them away as a copycat.

 

[BruiserB]

I'm more wondering what is really unique about the Swatch Bellamy watch? I bought a similar Swatch with NFC chip back in 2002 or so in Switzerland. The cool thing about it is that it worked at Swiss ski resorts and you could load your lift pass to the NFC chip and use that instead of the tag on your coat. Seems like this is the same thing, but just with the NFC chip tied to a Visa card. Also it was announced in 2015 with January 2016 availability, and as best as I can tell, it still hasn't actually launched.

I can't really tell any of the features of the VISA payment feature. Is it just an NFC credit card chip inserted in the watch? If so, it doesn't offer any of the features or security of the Apple Watch (becoming disabled if removed from wearer's wrist, ability to store multiple cards and have them changed/updated by the user, etc.) So I'm left wondering how Swatch managed to Think or Tick any Different or Differently at all here? Who would actually buy this thing?

 

[Mac 128]

When was the last time Apple has used the "Think Different" slogan anywhere? To this I say, either use it or lose it.

This is literally, and legally, true. Trademarks and brands have been snatched away from their owners for lack of use. Apple is defending a trademark they haven't been using, and arguably a parody at that.

 

[kyjaotkb]

Apple is suing Swatch. As far as purely watches go, Swatch Group is the largest in the world, even Apple, and maker of well respected high end brands Blancpain, Omega, Breguet, and Longines among others.

Apple is a bigger company over all both in revenue and employment, but Swatch Group is no slouch or defenseless deer.

I did misread this, as many of those brands you cite are part of the Swatch group. Thanks for correcting me. Still, the "Swatch" brand is generating much less revenue than the "Apple Watch" one.

[doublepost=1491923607][/doublepost]

Exactly. I'm currently being sued by some big-time atheist for "stealing" lines from his TV show and using them in my book. No one owns the English language. I look forward to winning in court.

Also, Apple Watch should be called Crapple Watch. Ha ha ha.

Someone still doing the "Crapple Watch" jokes in 2017. HA HA HA.
[doublepost=1491923796][/doublepost]Swatch really does seem to have a leg up in this Internet thing. Very modern website. Clever use of ClipArts. http://www.swatchgroup.com/group_profile/innovation_powerhouse/the_internet_of_things_overview