A movie theater chain with multiple locations on the East Coast has been sued by tech giant Apple over trademark infringement. The lawsuit claims that the theater chain took advantage of Apple’s brand, leading consumers to believe they were affiliated.
The company behind Apple Cinemas, Sand Media, applied for a trademark registration in 2024 but was denied due to concerns it may cause confusion among consumers. Apple sent a cease-and-desist notice, which was allegedly ignored.
Apple alleges that the theater chain started using a stylized apple logo and made changes to its strategy to attract landlords who believe they are related to the tech giant. The lawsuit also points out consumer complaints about the theaters being “greasy,” “dirty” and “grungy.”
The court order sought by Apple would force the company to stop using the name “Apple Cinemas” and receive unspecified damages. This is not the first time Apple has aggressively protected its trademarks, having previously blocked a Ukrainian director from naming his low-budget action comedy “Apple-Man.”
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/apple-sues-movie-theater-chain-1236337107