Apple has formally requested the tourism company to be in charge of managing the new cycle lane that will be available in the Rhine-Voreifel region, Germany, to change the logo that represents this service because has many similarities with that of the company based in Cupertino.
According to Apple's lawyers, both the green leaf located at the top of the logo and the bite that shows on the right side of the apple are two clear evidences of the inspiration in Apple that they have had when creating the logo. The green leaf only changes to this color when Earth Day is celebrated. The bit ... I don't see it.
This new bike lane, dubbed Apfelrouter (Apple Route), was registered with the patent and trademark office last year and is being used by the Vin-Vorefiel region tourist office, according to the Westdeutscher Rundfunk newspaper. Apple's lawyers have not only presented a appeal to the granting of registration by the Patent and Trademark Office German, but also urge that they stop using it immediately.
Eva Konrath, Managing Director of Tourism for the Rhine-Voreifel region states that they have a completely different product and that it is incredible that a company as big as Apple is attacking him. Apfelroute plans to start its activities on May 19. If we take into account that both the uniforms and everything related is already prepared, it would be a huge cost for this service to have to suddenly change the entire design.
For a judge to rule in favor of Apple, at least in Europe, the logo of this service would have to be associated by users, something that seeing it with the naked eye does not seem possible. In addition, the activity associated with this logo has to do with technology and what Apple represents. But, of course, Apple has to publicly express its discomfort, since in the United States there is a belief that if it is not acted on, abuse is encouraged.