The non-profit Biosfär Österlen was contacted early this year by the Swedish Patent and Registration Office on Apple's behalf regarding its apple logo. The tech giant deemed the logo too similar to its registered trademark. The dispute was resolved with a promise not to compete with Apple.
Biosfärområde på Österlen is a non-profit association promoting sustainable development and protecting natural and cultural environments in the Österlen area. The group uses a colorful apple as its logo.
Early this year, the Swedish Patent and Registration Office contacted the association on behalf of Apple, as reported by Ystads Allehanda. Apple considered the logo to infringe on its registered trademark.
"On an already registered trademark, you might think that's a bit strange. We wondered if apples aren't quite similar all over the world. It was like Apple thought the American apple has higher value than the Österlen one," said Dafvid Hermansson, the association's chairman.
The dispute was settled after Biosfär Österlen promised never to sell computers or mobile phones and thus not compete with Apple.
