Comments on: Woolworths choking on an Apple

By: Creative Passion

Creative Passion — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:25:56 +0000

The Woolworths trademark was official April 2011. But just because they managed to get it registered doesn’t stop Apple from challenging (now or in the future).

I note that Woolworths didn’t manage to get the complete blanket (all classes).

I don’t know if they applied for it, but it’s really interesting that they don’t have Class 38 (Telecommunications) and a few others.

Even more interesting is that they were successful in Class 9 and managed to get subclasses including: data processing equipment and computers; clocks, computer devices and computer peripheral devices, electrical devices for personal and household use; telephones; computer hardware and software; CDs, cassette tapes, videos, DVDs; CD players, VCRs, DVD players, video cameras; PLUS parts and accessories in Class 9 for all of the aforementioned goods.

I’m not sure if the pomegranite angle will work… because the trademark examiner specifically mentioned an apple shape.

So it will be really intriguing to see if Apple decides to pursue them. Especially because the first trademark for Apple in Australia is about 1980 (in class 9)… which is a little earlier than 2008.

By: Ken Peters

Ken Peters — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:31:56 +0000

I’m not so put off that it looks vaguely like an apple, but rather because it looks like a stylized vagina. Forget pomegranate, they should say “vagina” in the trademark filing.

By: Samar

Samar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:28:59 +0000

Woolworth’s logo is not half as good as the clean Apple logo, but ya it does have a resemblance that Apple can object to. If I owned Apple(I wish! ) I would have fought for it like hell!

By: malcolm

malcolm — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:40:36 +0000

Is this about the integrity of the visual element of the brand? It’s much harder for Apple to protect its name – BMW can fight you on the mark and the name – does that make them more ruthless in pursuing any perceived threat?

By: david

david — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:36:30 +0000

Great stuff, take the green colour out of the Woolworths logo and replace it with the Apple techno texture and they look much more similar. I’m left wondering though whether this is less about brand marks and more about Apple protecting their market position by making it tougher for Woolworths to enter the technology game.

By: tim

tim — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:27:05 +0000

I like the Pomegranate spin. Apple will fight Woolworths hard on this. The outcome from this battle is going put a big stake in the ground (whatever result).

By: Dom

Dom — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:59:46 +0000

Very clever! Looking at the Apple (Pomegranate) in different applications is great. It will be very interesting to see the outcome of this battle from two worldwide known brands.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:31:48 +0000

To be honest i dont think Apple has a leg to stand on against Woolworths. I never have thought that the Woolworths logo looked like Apple.