Apple trademarks design of retail stores

Apple’s request to trademark the design and layout of its retail stores has been granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

The trademark covers the store’s glass facade, interior furniture and fixtures, floors, shelves, lighting, and “Genius Bar” where customers can seek technical support.

The US tech giant attempted the first time to apply for trademark in 2010 but was rejected.

According to Christopher Sprigman, a law professor at University of Virginia, in order for Apple to claim trademark right, it must show that consumers are confused between genuine Apple store and a fake one.

“The million dollar question in this instance, as in pretty much all trade dress cases, is just how close a competitor can come to the design without infringing,” Sprigman said.

While trademark rights are not extended beyond the US, a company can apply similar request in other countries where it operates, says Sprigman.

A fake Apple store has opened last year in Kunming, China featuring Apple’s logo and furnitures which looked authentic. The fraudulent store was discovered when a blogger wrote about it. Chinese authorities ordered the store to shut down along with other more than 20 stores operating unauthorised.

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