Swatch wins trademark lawsuit against Apple
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Swatch is no stranger to legal battles with giants like Apple and Samsung, and to some success, we might add. The Swiss company filed a lawsuit against Samsung two months ago, because the South Korean company copied Swatch’s trademark on its smartwatch faces. However, Swatch was sued by Apple two years ago for a similar reason. The Cupertino-based company claimed in the lawsuit that Swatch’s logo – “Tick different,” which is etched on some of its smartwatches, strongly resemble its famous “Think different” slogan.
Unfortunately for Apple, a Swiss court has just ruled in Swatch’s favor over the use of its “Tick different” logo. Apparently, the court doesn’t think that Swatch’s slogan infringes on Apple’s own logo, but even if they are very similar, the Swiss company claims the “Think Different” advertising campaign wasn’t too popular in Switzerland to warrant protection.
The Federal Administrative Court has agreed with Swatch and said that Apple hasn’t given the court enough documents that would back up its case. Of course, Swatch wouldn’t stand a chance in the United States where the “Think Different” advertising campaign remains one the most famous in the company’s history.
Questions & Answers
Q.What was Apple's main argument in their lawsuit against Swatch?
What was Apple's main argument in their lawsuit against Swatch?
Apple claimed Swatch's 'Tick different' logo, used on some of its smartwatches, closely resembled Apple's well-known 'Think different' slogan. They argued this similarity infringed on their trademark.
Q.Why did the Swiss court rule in favour of Swatch?
Why did the Swiss court rule in favour of Swatch?
The Swiss court did not believe Swatch's slogan infringed on Apple's. The court also noted Apple failed to provide sufficient documentation to support its case during the proceedings.
Q.Why did Swatch argue that Apple's slogan did not warrant protection in Switzerland?
Why did Swatch argue that Apple's slogan did not warrant protection in Switzerland?
Swatch claimed that Apple's 'Think Different' advertising campaign was not widely popular or well-known enough in Switzerland. This limited recognition meant it did not warrant the legal protection Apple sought there.
Q.Would Swatch likely have won this case in the United States?
Would Swatch likely have won this case in the United States?
No, the article suggests Swatch would probably not succeed in the United States. Apple's 'Think Different' campaign is considered one of its most famous there, indicating it holds strong recognition and protection.