Time for an Apple legal battle
SANDTON – Well-known technology giant, Apple, have found themselves in hot water over the name of their watch.
Apple products are well known and commonly used throughout the world, however, even this technology giant is not immune to legal conflict.
Their most recent battle has involved something relatively simple, the name of their world-renowned Apple Watches.
Attorney Tyrone Walker explained this interesting legal battle that the company has found itself in. “Apple recently filed various trademark applications for iWatch around the world. Some of the trademarks proceeded to registration and others have been opposed.”
He went on to explain that one of the main oppositions to the iWatch has been the Swiss watchmaker, Swatch, which has trademark registrations for the brand ISWATCH. “The most recent rejection has been in the United Kingdom where the UK courts upheld the rights of Swatch and believed ISWATCH and iWatch are too similar.”
As many may already know, Apple has already branded their watches as the Apple Watch. Walker highlighted, “Apple states on their website that its ‘innovation is embodied in its intellectual property’ [intangible property that is the result of an individual’s creation or invention]. The problem with being one of the leading innovators in the world is that you have to protect these innovations and inventions.”
He added that over the past few years Apple has had many problems in trying to protect their intellectual property. “Let’s take the new iPhone 7, for example. When apple develops or launches a new product they will have to protect this product and its name [trademark] in every country in the world.
“There is no global registration for trademarks and there are only a couple of regional organisations whereby you can file one regional trademark to protect a number of countries, the European Union is a good example. As you can understand, protecting a trademark or name in every country in the world can come with some difficulties.”
