Apple Cinemas, the corporate that’s being sued for alleged trademark infringement by Apple, today said that it’s dedicated to defending its model.
We’re dedicated to defending our model, our historical past, and our continued proper to function as Apple Cinemas–an id that’s and has all the time been clearly distinct and absolutely compliant with all relevant trademark legal guidelines.
Apple Cinemas is a long-established unbiased theater chain with no connection to Apple Inc. Our identify displays our geographic roots and has by no means been supposed to recommend, or used to indicate, any affiliation with their model. Moreover, claims of shopper confusion are unfounded. Apple Cinema’s branding [sic] is clearly differentiated.
We’ve got responded moderately and transparently to all authorized communications relating to this matter and stay centered on rising our enterprise and model in good religion, as we now have for over a decade.
Apple filed a lawsuit towards Apple Cinemas final Friday. Apple’s attorneys accused Apple Cinemas of “knowingly and deliberately utilizing the identify Apple to sow confusion for its personal profit.”
Apple Cinemas has operated since 2013, and the corporate claims that its identify got here from its first deliberate location at Apple Valley Mall in Rhode Island, however a movie show by no means opened at that mall. Apple Cinemas operates 14 whole areas, according to its website. A kind of is in San Francisco, California, whereas the others are in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York.
Apple believes that Apple Cinemas is pursuing a nationwide enlargement in america, together with near Apple’s headquarters and retail shops.
Within the lawsuit, Apple mentioned that its “repeated efforts to resolve the matter amicably” had been unsuccessful. Apple additionally cited feedback from individuals who had been underneath the impression that Apple Cinemas is owned by Apple. Apple has produced motion pictures and TV reveals distributed via its Apple TV+ service since 2019.
Apple Cinemas tried and didn’t trademark each the Apple Cinemas identify and the “Apple Cinemas Expertise,” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Workplace denying the marks in 2024 due to potential confusion with Apple’s prior trademark rights.
Apple is searching for financial damages and an injunction to cease Apple Cinemas from utilizing the identify.