Apple faces some restrictions on use of term 'iWatch' in UK
A trademark opposition Swiss watch maker Swatch filed against Apple, involving the term “iWatch,” was recently granted by the United Kingdom’s Intellectual Property Office.
The agency found that the term, which was registered by California-based Apple, was too similar to the Swatch trademarks “iSwatch” and “Swatch,” the BBC and Computer Business Review report. Swatch filed the objection in March of 2014, and when Apple unveiled its device in 2015, it went with the term “Apple Watch.”
The trademark decision leaves room for Apple to use the term “iWatch” for some UK products. But besides smartwatches, it can’t be used for hardware, monitors, audio, video devices or cameras.
“This decision shows the difficulty global brands can have when it comes to launching a new product around the world. Trademarks are territorial, which means that a trademark must be available for registration in every country of interest,” said Sharon Daboul, a trademark lawyer, told the BBC.
