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iSwatch versus iWatch

By FashionUnited

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Swiss watchmaker Swatch has lodged official complaints against Apple for the use of its iWatch label,

objecting the trademark applications registered by the US tech company.

The world's largest watchmaker believes that the name used by Apple is too similar to its own product, iSwatch, a wristwatch with a digital display and may cause confusion among consumers. Swatch reportedly has the name iSwatch registered in dozen of countries and is eager to protect its branding.

So far over 50 companies around the world have filed for protection for the trademark iWatch name, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization website.

“We assessed the risk of confusion and found the trademarks are confusingly similar. In all countries where the trademark is registered, we will take action against it,” said Serena Chiesura, head of corporate communications for The Swatch Group in an official statement to Swiss newssite Watson.ch.

“This is the normal procedure to protect your own brand name,” said Chief Executive Officer for Swatch Group, Nick Hayek in an interview with Bloomberg. He declined to note which countries trademark authorities had been notified and added that there are no current plans to take Apple to court. “We react like this for all other brand names that we have protected.”

Apple has managed to keep plans for its smartwatch underwraps, but has registered the name iWatch in a number of countries last year, including Japan, Russia, Mexico and Turkey. Tim Cook, Apple's Chief Executive Officer, previously told investors that the company would be launching new products this year.

However, according to unnamed sources, Cook has no plans to unveil the iWatch at its upcoming annual Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, US. Despite tension between the two companies, the two firms do have occasional contact, but Hayek notes that the two have yet to discuss their trademark dispute.

“If somebody wants to register a name that is too close to a name that we have protected, we fight against it,” concluded Hayek.

Apple
Swatch
World Intellectual Property Organization