JAKARTA - Apple Inc. is reportedly trying to obtain intellectual property rights for depictions of apples in a logo.
Apple's attempt to secure a trademark in Switzerland began in 2017, when it applied to the Swiss Intellectual Property Institute (IPI) by seeking IP rights for realistic black-and-white depictions of the apple variety, known as the generic Green Apple Glonny Smith.
IPI granted part of Apple's request, saying the company could only have rights related to some of the items it wanted.
Mereka, IPI mengutip prinsip hukum yang mempertimbangkan gambar atau barang umum seperti apple berada di domain publik. Tetapi, Apple mengajukan adanya.
Now, Apple is continuing its six-year fight against the Fruit Union Suisse, an association that has promoted the interests of Swiss fruit farmers for more than 111 years, is being resumed by Apple.
The case moves through the court only dealing with items whose trademarks are rejected by IPI.
However, if Apple succeeds, Fruit Union Suisse will be forced to change its logo. The association uses a red apple symbol with a white cross on the right, meaning it carries the Swiss national flag coated at the apple.
"We have difficulty understanding (the case with Apple), because they are not trying to protect the bitten apples," said Fruit Union Director Suisse Jimmy Mariethoz, to Wired, quoted Tuesday, June 20.
"Their goal here is to really have the right to an actual apple, which, for us, is something that is truly almost universal, it should be free to use everyone," he added.
According to IPI officials, Apple's request cannot be disclosed to the public because the process is still pending, but includes public use such as audiovisual footage intended for television and other transmissions.
Mariethoz added that the Fruit Union Suisse is concerned because there is no clarity about the use of what shape of the apple Apple will try to protect.
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This is because Apple looks very aggressive in pursuing things it only considers a violation of its trademark.
"We are concerned that any visual representation of the apple, so anything audiovisual or related to new technology or media, has the potential to be affected. Theoretically, we can enter a slippery area," said Mariéthoz.
Although this case has confused Swiss fruit farmers, it is part of a global trend. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization records, Apple has submitted similar requests to dozens of IP authorities around the world, and succeeded. In Japan, Turkey, Israel, and Armenia have agreed to his request.
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