Amazon launched its Android Appstore today, giving Android owners another avenue for purchasing/downloading apps. While the pros and cons of this third-party market solution can be debated (and likely will) at great length, here’s something we didn’t see coming, although we probably should have: Apple is breaking out the gavel, crying “foul.”
That’s right, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple Inc. has filed suit against Amazon.com Inc. over the name “Appstore.” Of course, Apple trademarked the name “App Store,” but last I checked, “sounds like” doesn’t count in lawsuits, though time will tell.
Per the WSJ:
The filing says Amazon began using the phrase around January of this year to refer to its mobile-software download service. Amazon, however, cites it as “Appstore,” with no space and a lower case ‘s’.
“We’ve asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers,” said a spokeswoman for Apple. A spokeswoman for Amazon said it doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
We’ll see how the courts rule, but trying to trademark something as generic as “App store” seems unfair to begin with (and Microsoft is challenging the trademark.) Seems to me that Apple is just being overly restrictive and abusive…again. But then, that’s really what they should trademark, isn’t it?
[via wsj]