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New York, New York: so good they used the logo twice

Big Apple battles smaller Apple
Fri Apr 04 2008, 09:58

AFTER YEARS of telling the world that it is the 'Big Apple', New York is the latest victim of the fruit-themed toymaker whose lawyers are determined to get the city to see it as the only big Apple out there.

The spark for the row was when New York released a new logo as part of its GreeNYC campaign. The graphic, which shows a stylised apple with a stalk and a leaf, looks a bit like Jobs' Mob's logo which is a symbol worshipped by terminally smug, yet strangely-gullible people the world over.

The Cappuccino-based outfit has called foul and is opposing a bid by New York for a trademark on the logo.

According to Wired, Apple claims the city's logo will confuse people and "seriously injure the reputation which Apple has established for its goods and services."

New York's intellectual-property lawyer Gerald Singleton said Apple's claims have no merit and that no consumer is likely to be confused. We assume he means 'no normal consumer' as Macolytes could easily confuse the Chrysler Building for a stylish new art deco Ipod docking station.

Although we're sure they won't have trouble spotting the difference between a recycling campaign and a computer company, we feel just as confident that regular New Yoikers will react to Apple's accusations in their customary shy, retiring, polite and quiet manner. µ

L'Inq
Wired

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Comments
Get a Newton, Steve...

Mobs threw apples before Jobs threw his.
Go Fig.

posted by : karlsbad, 05 April 2008 Complain about this comment
One word

Propriertary

posted by : psychonut, 04 April 2008 Complain about this comment
why so hateful?

while i agree that apple's legal dept. is a little on the retarded side, why am i seeïng so much hatred for apple in general? i use a windows machine at both my jobs, and it's alright, but i use an apple at home--and it works better, despite beïng nine years old. so what's wrong with apple products again?

posted by : mAsK, 04 April 2008 Complain about this comment
Yeah...

"we feel just as confident that regular New Yoikers will react to Apple's accusations in their customary shy, retiring, polite and quiet manner"

You are right there - Fock Apple!

posted by : fishbone, 04 April 2008 Complain about this comment
Stole the name from the Beatles?

He didnt steal the name from the Beatles; he stole it from the fruit, you know, the apple. And they had the apple logo millenia before Apple did. I think I saw an apple on some cave drawings somewhere, someone should alert the cave men so they can sue everybody. That is unless theyre too busy doing geiko commercials.

posted by : Dave, 04 April 2008 Complain about this comment
Logos

A comparison would have been an idea do you not think?

posted by : Chris, 04 April 2008 Complain about this comment
Stop drinking the koolaid, Steve!

Jobs has been drinking too much of his own koolaid. This is either a stupid attempt at gaining "free" advertising in the media (minus the lawyer fees, who are may be on-staff and therefore a fixed expense to be used at random), or just part of Steve's "god-complex". The backlash: placing the following thoughts in consumers' minds: 

1) Apple does not want to be "mistaken" for or associated in any way with an environmentally-conscious initiative (it is too busy building its toys in toxic Chinese sweatshops which are powered by coal), and 

2) Apple-critics are right; this company is run by arrogant and just plain silly control-freaks, and why would anyone want to patronize or associate themselves with a company of fools?

Perhaps Apple will offer to drop their stupid law suit in "exchange" for more free advertising and billboard space in NY. Manipulative, pouting, egocentric children...

posted by : Getreal, 06 January 2008 Complain about this comment
Which came first?

So which came first the Big Apple or the Apple? Or how about Apple records?

I am sure there is prior art showing an Apple associated with the Big Apple before Steve Jobs decided to steal the name from the Beatles.

posted by : RV, 05 January 2008 Complain about this comment
Apple screwy

Yep, I'll honk my horn to that.

posted by : JGurtz, 05 January 2008 Complain about this comment
April fools was 4 days ago.. Oh

This is absolutely ridiculous. New York has been the Big Apple for how many decades and Apple, formerly Apple Computer has been just plain Apple for what fraction of a single decade? Their damn logo isn't even colored anymore.

Maybe this will get people to see the Apple logo for what it is, an Apple with a bite taken out of it. Or in other words they are selling you a product with something missing; the reason for the exorbitant cost, or the inability to use the device in a way not sanctioned by the company.

posted by : RobDinsmore, 05 January 2008 Complain about this comment
aboutus
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