Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has withdrawn its lawsuit filed against a German Coffee shop Apfelkind (Apple Child) over its fruit shaped logo. Apfelkind is owned by Christin Romer, who opened the café in May 2011, but received a letter from Apple headquarters in California over the logo, according to a report from Local.de.
Idea behind the logo
Romer’s café logo, a red apple with a cutout of a child’s silhouette, is printed on cushions, cups, chairs, and delivery bikes at the café.
Romer wanted to create a corner café for those parents who wish to spend time with their children, playing with them or eating with them. She wished to create a place where gadgets like computers, smartphones and tablets were not needed.
Touting her idea of opening the Apfelkind café in Bonn, Germany, she said that today a majority of people are busy with technology and multitasking, and then they lack the time for their children. Kids can play around with things in the café’s playroom and parents can sit back and relax, savoring a cup of coffee.
Apple filed the suit in 2011
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) complained that Romer’s logo may confuse customers and others with Apple’s logo, and, therefore, asked Romer to take out her trademark right request. However, Apple filed a lawsuit when Romer did not agree to do so.
“The thing is, it was almost flattering to hear from Apple,” Romer told The Local in October 2011. “I love Apple products — I love design and am not terribly technical. I organized my cafe with my iPhone and Apple laptop.”
In 2011, Romer said that she was very fond of logo and has used it everywhere. She said that her trademark filing was done to expand the café so that those interested in her café idea can take it up as a franchisee.
Apple lawsuit a message for small businesses
Romer claims that she was offered a settlement by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) but refused. Patent lawyer Alexander Bulling told DW that Apple might have taken this step purposely to indicate to small business owners that it would not like them to sport a logo similar to its own.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) gave no reason for withdrawing its lawsuit, and Romer can now use her logo any way she wants.
