Apple Accused Of 'Violating The Rights' Of Iconic Swiss Railway Clock

from the live-by-the-sword... dept

Apple is notoriously aggressive when it comes to going after others for supposedly violating its trademarks -- often taking it to extreme levels. So it seems noteworthy, as many of you sent in, that the Swiss Railway Service (SBB) is claiming that Apple's clock app in iOS 6 happens to infringe on a clock design they hold the rights to. On the left is Apple's app. On the right, is SBB's iconic version. While the article above quoted someone from SBB saying that he's "happy" that Apple used the design, that doesn't mean that they're okay with it. They're not:

SBB is the sole owner of the trademark and copyright of the railway clock. The railway company will now get in touch with Apple. The aim is a legal, as well as a financial solution. It is not right that one [Apple] simply copies the design.

Apple has a bit of a history of playing fast and loose with the artwork it uses. Remember the story of the iPad background image? And there are plenty of reasons to suggest that Apple should be able to do this. But, considering how aggressive it is in enforcing its own trademarks, you'd think that it would be a lot more careful before doing things like this. Of course, you have to also wonder... if Apple weren't so aggressive with its own trademarks, would SBB be so insistent on a "legal" and "financial" solution?

Filed Under: clocks, switzerland, trademark
Companies: apple, sbb, swiss railway service