Even as a lifetime Mac user, I cannot see the good-faith basis for this action. I have long had difficulty with the ever-widening scope of copyright and trademark limitations placed on material. This case falls into that category.
In defense of Apple, Woolworths appears no better — seeking a broad trademark protection of its own logo for any product.
However, Woolworths has been carefully avoiding use of the noun “apple” to avoid legal problems. I fail to see why the rest of humanity has to avoid reference or use of an apple in light of a computer company’s logo.
Apple’s legal department has clearly warned everyone: “And the [corporate office] commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any [logo] tree in the garden [of commerce]; but you must not eat from the Apple tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely [be sued].”
My greatest concern is how it will affect other areas. For example, I have taken steps to bring the Bible into compliance with trademark rules. For future reference, here are the new translations approved by the Turley Blog in-house counsel and divinity offices:
“He kept him as the apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy xxxii. 10) will now read “He kept him as a red fruit not to be confused with a market logo of his eye.”
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