Apple vs Prepear

Apple, known for its strict trademark protection policy, filed an opposition against the logo of the startup Prepear - a cooking app - because it considered that the minimalist design of a pear with a leaf resembled the mark of the well-known apple. The case sparked backlash against Apple and ultimately ended with a small change to the design.

Strategy: Extending trademark protection to similar graphic logos of small businesses
Type of Confusion: Perceptual confusion - based on visual/stylistic similarity, not on functional confusion of products

• Countries: USA


• Year/Period: 2020-2021


• Sector: Technology / Mobile applications


• Subject of dispute: Figurative mark - minimalist fruit logo


• Winner: Settlement (with a small change to the Prepear logo)


• Loser: No one - settled out of court


• Cost to Winner: Unknown (likely low - change to the shape of the leaf)


• Cost to Loser: Apple received no damages - only a change to the artwork

 

Source of Decision: MacRumors - Apple Settles With Prepear

 

As shown in the following image, the change Prepear made to the shape of the leaf was minimal. Nevertheless, it was enough to satisfy Apple. This is a characteristic example of the exceptional importance that one of the largest companies in the world attaches to the protection and consistency of its trademark.