Apple Competitors Challenge ‘App Store’ Trademark

Microsoft, HTC, and Sony are jumping into the Apple ‘App Store’ trademark battle in Europe. The companies filed formal applications Thursday, declaring invalidity to the office that oversees trademarks.

Microsoft challenged Apple’s trademark application in North America, asking the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to refuse the iPhone maker’s registration request several months ago.

And now Microsoft, along with a multitude of Apple’s competitors, have taken the fight to Europe to challenge Apple’s rights to the ‘Appstore’ and ‘App Store’ trademarks in Europe.

Microsoft and the other technological giants are looking to invalidate Apple’s trademark registration, “claiming the trademarks should not have been granted because they lack distinctiveness.”

One of Microsoft’s spokesmen clarified:

Microsoft and other leading technology companies are seeking to invalidate Apple’s trademark registration for APP STORE and APPSTORE because we believe that they should not have been granted because they both lack distinctiveness. The undisputed facts establish that ‘app store’ means exactly what it says, a store offering apps, and is generic for the services that the registrations cover.

Do you think Apple should be able to trademark ‘Appstore’ in Europe? North America?  Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.