It seems like Apple set out to prove that besides patents and copyright we really also should abolish or at least strongly reform trademarks and that everything using the term Intellectual Property really is total nonsense.
Seriously. Look at this shit!
“Over the past few years, Apple has pursued a meal-prepping app with a pear logo, a singer-songwriter named Frankie Pineapple, a German cycling route, a pair of stationery makers, and a school district, among others. The company fought a decades-long battle with the Beatles’ music label, Apple Corps, which was finally resolved in 2007.”
Digging into the first one: “Apple sued Indie musician named ‘Franki pineapple’ because pineapple sounds like apple Apple said the names were “both the names of fruits, and thus convey a similar commercial impression.” They also considered challenging Stephanie Carlisi’s logo, an exploding pineapple grenade”
Wtf? Because pineapple sounds like apple? Well no shit Sherlock. Sounds like you should have named your company something that isn’t so goddamn common. And the real issue I see here is that they have such a huge pile of money they can most likely just strongarm anyone who dares to question them or has some interest in something that sounds like apple. Wow.
To your point, since they have so much cash, you will never see any real legislation to challenge this, just like Disney and copyrights.
This article seems to be pay walled. Which is a bummer because it sounds super interesting.
