The Apple way to gain publicity: “Sue everyone for stupid shit”

Apple’s latest display of marketing prowess is the law suit against Amazon and their Android Appstore (single word, contrary to Apple’s App Store), claiming improper use of the name. Even when Amazon’s version is technically not the same, that is not enough for Apple, as they have asked a California court to grant a ruling to prevent the company from using the “App Store” name and for unspecified damages.

Apple claims it reached out to Amazon on three separate occasions asking it to rename its software download offering, but when faced with the lack of a “substantive response,” it decided to take things to court.

They also claim that Amazon expanded its use of the trademark recently in advertising a software product on its website called Angry Birds Rio. Angry Birds is the name of a popular game in Apple’s App Store.

“We’ve asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers,” said Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple.

You gotta hand it to Apple’s marketing geniuses for creating a storm in a glass of water. There is no way they will win that case as Apple App Store is not the same as Amazon’s Android Appstore, they are 2 different things even if they both sell software. Amazon doesn’t sell iOS apps, and Apple’s doesn’t sell Android apps, so in short Apple is just being a dick.

Apple applied to register App Store as a trademark in the U.S., and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the application, Apple said in the lawsuit.

Microsoft Corp. opposes the registration and the matter will be the subject of proceedings before a trademark appeal board, according to the court filing.

I hope Microsoft wins, trademarking words in the English language is just ridiculous.

In any case the best way to stay on everyone’s mouth is to do something outrageous, I guess Apple just found its formula.

[Engadget] and [The Salt Lake Tribune].