Though Apple and Amazon are still scheduled to go to trial over the use of the term “app store,” a judge has ordered the two companies to try to settle the issue outside the courtroom first.
U.S. Judge Elizabeth Laporte ordered Apple and Amazon to meet on March 21 with their attorneys to try to work out a settlement for the lawsuit. Apple claims that Amazon infringes on its trademark by using the name to promote the Amazon Appstore. Amazon argues that the term “App Store” is too generic to be trademarked and “the use of the term ‘app store’ to refer to selling apps is commonplace in the industry.”
This disagreement started in March 2011 when Apple sued Amazon for the use of the term, which Apple attempted to trademark in 2008 after the launch of the App Store for iPhone. Apple’s claims that Amazon engaged in “false advertising” were dismissed and the judge ordered Apple to omit that particular complaint.
Apple owns the rights to the terms “App Store” and “Appstore” in Europe, but not in the U.S. as its trademark application for the term is pending approval.
If Apple and Amazon can’t reach a settlement outside the courtroom, the case is scheduled to go to trial in August. Expect for this one to go to trial in August.
Image Credit: Create Digital Music
