The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has issued a ruling regarding a trademark application from Yichun Qinningmeng Electronics, a Chinese firm, partly siding with Apple in its opposition. The application for a citrus-shaped logo intended for keyboards and computer products was rejected, though the application for solar panels was accepted. This decision stems from a complaint filed by Apple last July, asserting that the logo closely resembles its own.
Apple contended that elements of the citrus logo, which features a leaf and sections resembling both keyboard keys and sunbeams, could mislead consumers, particularly in the tech sector. The EUIPO emphasized that for the trademark opposition to succeed, several strict criteria must be met, including the necessity for the signs to be similar and for the existing trademark to have a reputation prior to the contested application.
While the EUIPO acknowledged Apple's strong reputation within the EU for certain goods, it noted that this does not extend universally to all products. The office concluded that the applicant did not demonstrate any legitimate reason for the use of the disputed trademark, leading to the rejection of part of the application.