The opposed trademark is intended for New York City's new campaign to raise environmental awareness, and it is starting to appear on everything from hybrid gasoline-electric taxicabs to recyclable grocery bags.
Apple points out in its opposition that it has extensively used and advertised the Apple logo since at least 1977, and that today Apple is one of the best-known and most valuable brands in the world. On a local level, since 2002 Apple has opened three retail stores in Manhattan which are quickly becoming popular tourist attractions. Due to the allegedly similar appearance and commercial impressions of the two marks, the similarity of goods and services, the likelihood of confusion and risk of dilution of the Apple logo's distinctiveness, Apple believes it will be damaged by the issuance of the applicant's trademark.
No doubt this is not the last dispute that will arise in the Go-Green craze. The word "green" appeared in 2400 trademark applications in 2007, doubling the number of its appearances in 2006 and becoming the most popular word in all 2007 applications.
Vol. 53, June 2010