In a strange legal battle with a Swiss association.
Apple Wants to Trademark Granny Smith Apples
In a strange legal battle with a Swiss association.
111-year-old Fruit Union Suisse uses a Granny Smith apple as its logo, illustrated in red with a white cross as a nod to the Swiss national flag. Seems harmless enough, right? Well, not if Apple has anything to say about it.
In what seems to be a trend for the tech giant, Apple is on an all-out quest to own the Granny Smith Apple, requesting multiple IP authorities around the world to take action.
Apple’s efforts in Switzerland started in 2017 when it requested IP rights for a Granny Smith, which many would identify as a generic apple shape. The Swiss Institute of Intellectual Property eventually gave Apple *some* of the rights it sought and asserted that common goods were public domain. Apple wasn’t satisfied and has since appealed.
For the Fruit Union Suisse, the case is exceptionally hazy since it’s not exactly clear which apples Apple will try to protect. In a report on Wired, Fruit Union Director Jimmy Mariéthoz says, “Their objective here is really to own the rights to an actual apple, which, for us, is something that is really almost universal … that should be free for everyone to use.”
“We’re concerned that any visual representation of an apple—so anything that’s audiovisual or linked to new technologies or to media—could be potentially impacted. That would be a very, very big restriction for us. Theoretically, we could be entering slippery territory every time we advertise with an apple.”
The Wired report goes on to call out a litany of trademark infringement suits that have come from Apple, and they’re a doozy:
For context, Apple has filed more trademark oppositions than Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, and Google combined. It’s unfortunate to see the tech giant go after small businesses, apple farmers, and the like who lack the resources to fight back. It’s unclear how the pending cases will play out, but know the next time you bite into a Granny Smith, the opps are watchin’.