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  • Apple Secures Trademark for Apple Store Design
    by
    Michael Essany
    Published on 01-29-2013 10:19 PM
    23 Comments Comments


    Apple has finally secured the legal trademark to the signature look, feel, and general design of the Apple Store.

    The exterior as well as interior designs of the company's hugely profitable and lucrative retail stores are now the trademarked properties of Apple. According to a report late Tuesday from Reuters, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple's request last week for the trademarks.

    The description of the trademarks includes "a clear glass storefront surrounded by a paneled facade" and, within the store, an "oblong table with stools...set below video screens flush mounted on the back wall."

    The move comes as the latest effort my Apple to crack down on copy cat retail stores, which are springing up with surprising frequency in markets around the world.

    Apple has been pursuing trademark protection for the Apple store design since May 2010.

    Source: Reuters
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Apple Secures Trademark for Apple Store Design started by Michael Essany View original post
    Categories:
    1. Apple
    Comments 23 Comments
    1. Silverado1987's Avatar
      Silverado1987 - 01-29-2013, 10:22 PM
      So what about microsofts stores that look like apples? The gotta change?
    1. PokemonDesigner's Avatar
      PokemonDesigner - 01-29-2013, 10:38 PM
      This is funny. Proves apple is a bunch of crybabies.
    1. sheon's Avatar
      sheon - 01-29-2013, 10:50 PM
      lol what cant u trademark in this country anymore....... and Apple would be the first to sue
    1. godfred212's Avatar
      godfred212 - 01-29-2013, 11:00 PM
      Apple will trademark it customers soon so we wouldn't be able to buy anything from another company what infants
    1. szr's Avatar
      szr - 01-29-2013, 11:35 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Michael Essany View Post
      The description of the trademarks includes "a clear glass storefront surrounded by a paneled facade" and, within the store, an "oblong table with stools...set below video screens flush mounted on the back wall."
      The problem with this is, unless there is more wording in there that narrows it down more, is that that description can describe some bars that I've seen in some places. Point being, these are not unique features, so I'm rather puzzled as to how a trademark could be secured based on that description.
    1. hollafront1314's Avatar
      hollafront1314 - 01-30-2013, 12:07 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by sheon View Post
      lol what cant u trademark in this country anymore....... and Apple would be the first to sue
      apple forgot to trade mark the floor mat.... nevermind they did sigh
    1. shigh's Avatar
      shigh - 01-30-2013, 12:29 AM
      I should try to trademark or patent complaining about apple. Id be rich!
    1. Norb's Avatar
      Norb - 01-30-2013, 12:46 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by sheon View Post
      lol what cant u trademark in this country anymore....... and Apple would be the first to sue
      Actually if you followed the news it turns out to be nothing... We will soon be like China where the knock-off iPhone is released and trademarked before the real one.
    1. Ambi_Valence's Avatar
      Ambi_Valence - 01-30-2013, 01:01 AM
      Much as I think something with this kind of variation should NOT be able to patented, (although I'm sure none of us have seen the actual text of the patent application - remember what is show above is very likely a snippet posted to generate news on a news site???).
      Apple do have a signature look with stores that i'd not seen anywhere previously but that I do see now, with remarkable similarity.
    1. lukeyb's Avatar
      lukeyb - 01-30-2013, 02:30 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Michael Essany View Post
      The description of the trademarks includes "a clear glass storefront surrounded by a paneled facade" and, within the store, an "oblong table with stools...set below video screens flush mounted on the back wall."
      By that description GourmetBurgerKitchen is screwed.
    1. b1997469's Avatar
      b1997469 - 01-30-2013, 03:42 AM
      Wait for the next lawsuit. Samsung have a store and its also got windows....
    1. bmwraw8482's Avatar
      bmwraw8482 - 01-30-2013, 04:13 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by b1997469 View Post
      Wait for the next lawsuit. Samsung have a store and its also got windows....
      And walls! Do apple stores have rounded corners too?
    1. cgfusion's Avatar
      cgfusion - 01-30-2013, 05:24 AM
      Listen al, you cry babies who call Apple cry babies. If you owned a company and others like Shamesung and Microsoft were copying you, what would you do. Clearly Microsoft copied the look and feel, they just don't have the product. And Shamesung has built a company on copying others ideas and look. Try thinking before you whine.
    1. oneduality's Avatar
      oneduality - 01-30-2013, 05:49 AM
      It's getting ridiculous .. soon Apple will be filing for patents on their employees and the food in their cafeteria .. The patent system needs an extreme overhaul!

      There have ALWAYS been copycats in the industry.. it actually does spur innovation because it pushes them to continue to strive to be different and it lets those that ARE different shine... Patents can also be just completely stupid such as patenting rounded edges or a finger gesture... Imagine 100 years of this when there's hardly anything left to patent? You'll have to buy a license to stand a certain way.
    1. Faresismail's Avatar
      Faresismail - 01-30-2013, 06:12 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Silverado1987 View Post
      So what about microsofts stores that look like apples? They gotta change?
      Hahahaha LOL
    1. b1997469's Avatar
      b1997469 - 01-30-2013, 07:47 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by cgfusion View Post
      Listen al, you cry babies who call Apple cry babies. If you owned a company and others like Shamesung and Microsoft were copying you, what would you do. Clearly Microsoft copied the look and feel, they just don't have the product. And Shamesung has built a company on copying others ideas and look. Try thinking before you whine.
      UUMMM, wasn't it Samsung that had mobile phones years before Apple did? So who did the copying?
      Wasn't it Android that had a notifications bar before Apple did? So again who did the copying?
      Wasn't it someone else that did just about everything the iphone does now BEFORE the iPhone did? So who is the real copycat here?

      Who patents everything even if someone else did it first then sues the original real owner? I would believe that would be Apple and thats the only original thing they do.

      Quote Originally Posted by oneduality View Post
      It's getting ridiculous .. soon Apple will be filing for patents on their employees and the food in their cafeteria .. The patent system needs an extreme overhaul!

      There have ALWAYS been copycats in the industry.. it actually does spur innovation because it pushes them to continue to strive to be different and it lets those that ARE different shine... Patents can also be just completely stupid such as patenting rounded edges or a finger gesture... Imagine 100 years of this when there's hardly anything left to patent? You'll have to buy a license to stand a certain way.
      The problem with what your saying is Apple dont change. Have a look at their computers. They look identical these days to 5 year ago. Just a big silver screen and a minimalist keyboard and mouse. Nothing has changed for many years.

      And with iPhones they are the same, look at the design of the 3G to 3GS then the iPhone 4 isn't changed much instead of rounded edges its now flat but from front on it still looks the same. Then the 4S still nothing then the 5 and oh its a tiny bit longer....

      Now go have a look at Samsung's Galaxy S1,2,3 models. They are completely different. Just looking at them you can tell them apart easily.

      Apple are the ones that need to change but dont and they complain about other companies making their products similar or "rounded edges" and they are forced to change where Apple stay the same all along.

      This is why Galaxy S* devices are the wanted device as they do change. Adding a tiny bit of length isn't a change, its just stretching what you have and hoping nobody notices and call it a big change.
    1. Ambi_Valence's Avatar
      Ambi_Valence - 01-30-2013, 07:54 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by b1997469 View Post
      UUMMM, wasn't it Samsung that had mobile phones years before Apple did? So who did the copying?
      Wasn't it Android that had a notifications bar before Apple did? So again who did the copying?
      Wasn't it someone else that did just about everything the iphone does now BEFORE the iPhone did? So who is the real copycat here?

      Who patents everything even if someone else did it first then sues the original real owner? I would believe that would be Apple and thats the only original thing they do.
      You are a dufus.
      Samsung didn't invent the mobile phone. This point is moot.
      Notifications can be achieved in many different ways.
      It matters not who invented something first. Law only permits those who own the rights to it unlimited freedom. You have no proof who invented an item or an idea at whatever time, what you can prove is the date of registration.

      Although a little odd, this particular case is I'm sure about those stores that look so much like Apples stores that it's blatant copying. Don't be an idiot. It's not about Apple suing because Microsoft acorss the mall from them used, SHOCK!!, real people to sell their goods too, just like Apple.
      Pop into ANY Apple store and then Staples or Wall Mart for example. They are markedly different.
    1. thazsar's Avatar
      thazsar - 01-30-2013, 08:56 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by szr View Post
      The problem with this is, unless there is more wording in there that narrows it down more, is that that description can describe some bars that I've seen in some places. Point being, these are not unique features, so I'm rather puzzled as to how a trademark could be secured based on that description.
      The funny thing about trademarks is that you can alter it just a little and its not infringement anymore. When they are that vague, then there's a whole lot of room for variation by other entities.
    1. Norb's Avatar
      Norb - 01-30-2013, 09:34 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by b1997469 View Post
      Wait for the next lawsuit. Samsung have a store and its also got windows....
      Yeah, glad you brought that up.
      Attachment 620162
    1. Mrteacup's Avatar
      Mrteacup - 01-30-2013, 09:37 AM
      God.. you people dont even know what a trademark is. I 100% guarantee any big company or even most restaurants have trademarks. Apple most definitely should, they are renowned for their stores. If people are copying a glass spiral stair case they should not be able to do that! You guys should understand this is NOT a patent, for apple to sue someone they have to be using the combination of apples trademark description. If they have glass doors they cant be sued but if they have glass doors with a genius bar and lines of computers with an open feel, they may be at risk but their is still more they need to be copying for apple to get mad.
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