Apple, the most valuable company in the world, recently sued a musician with seven monthly subscribers to the music service. According to a report in the New York Times, Franki Pineapple's stage name was too close to Apple and would tarnish its reputation.
According to documents the company filed, Apple said the names were both the names of fruits, and thus convey a similar commercial impression.
Carlisi told the paper that it was not an apple.
Many small business owners give up on fighting Apple because they don't have the money or resources to do so, according to the NYT. Carlisi was able to fight the suit and win with the concession that she state on her trademark application that she was not her real name.
Apple is not the only bully when it comes to trademark claims. Back in 2016 there was a fight between Kylie Minogue and the reality TV star. She tried to trademark the phrase "rise and shine" after a trend, and both moves got her flak on social media.
Major brands and talents can apply for trademarks. Is it possible to accumulate stacks of applications for simple phrases, common words and sayings? It seems too far away.
Big tech and billionaires should be allowed to trademark every word they want until the rest of us can start our own projects.
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