Apple and Amazon stand down on 'app store' lawsuit
Apple sued Amazon in 2011 for "misuse" of the app store name, but the two companies now agree that both can use it.
Apple and Amazon.com have ended their legal dispute over who has rights to use the "app store" moniker. Apple had sued Amazon in March 2011, accusing the online retailing giant of misusing the "App Store" name, which Apple tried to trademark in 2008 following the launch of the App Store for iPhone.
Apple later amended its suit, accusing Amazon of false advertising when the retailer changed its "Amazon Appstore for Android" brand by de-emphasizing the "for Android" in ads for its new Kindle tablet.
"Amazon's use is also likely to lessen the goodwill associated with Apple's App Store service and Apple products designed to utilize Apple's App Store service by associating Apple's App Store service with the inferior qualities of Amazon's service," Apple claimed in its filing at the time. Amazon's contention throughout the hearings had been that "app store" is a generic term.
Now both companies will be clear to use the "app store" moniker. Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet stated, "We no longer see a need to pursue our case. With more than 900,000 apps and 50 billion downloads, customers know where they can purchase their favorite apps."
The case was scheduled to go to trial in August.
(Via Reuters)