Apple is working on a deal with a meal preparation start-up whose pear logo has sought to spread because it is very similar to its own famous emblem.
The Prepear logo – a pear with a leaf on top – “readily resembles Apple’s famous Apple logo and creates a similar commercial impression,” said the Silicon Valley giant in a summer court case, adding that the similarities “would cause the average consumer to believe” that Prepear is “affiliated or endorsed by Apple”.
But in a lawsuit filed with the Trademark and Trademark Trials Committee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reported by MacRumors, Apple asked that the process be suspended for 30 days, while “the parties are actively involved in negotiations for the resolution of this matter “.
Super Healthy Kids – the company behind the Prepear app, which allows people to store recipes and create meal plans – accused Apple of “abusing its position of power by pursuing small businesses like ours, which are already struggling due to the effects from Covid-19, “And he pledged to fight Apple” not just to keep our logo, but to send a message to big tech companies that intimidating small businesses has consequences. “
The startup started a Change.org campaign in August with the hope of driving Apple back. The petition has already collected 269,000 signatures.
If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the dispute will resume on January 23, with the first court appearances scheduled for March.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.