Apple is the world’s largest multinational technology company. Apple specializes in the designing, developing of electronics and software. Apple began in 1976 selling Mac computers. Today, it has thousands of products and has a large legal department to handle its intellectual property.
A copyright is a protection afforded to authors of original works that can be obtained from the government. These original works may include music, art, drama, books or other writings, among other works. The work does not have to be published in order to obtain a copyright.
Apple has copyrights for many of its designs and features. Some of the features of the iPhone have copyrights. Apple also has copyrights for its software, its operating system as well as for its ROM and interface applications.
Trademark
A trademark is a design, symbol, work or phrase that distinguishes the source of the goods. A trademark can also include the appearance of the product, like its packaging, or the shape, size or the color of the product.
The Apple company has numerous trademarks for its software and hardware. Some of the more familiar trademarks are Apple, Apple TV, iMac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes, Siri, and Macbook. Some of the less familiar ones that I am not familiar with include Xgrid, Time Capsule, Sherlock, MagSafe, Keynote, Firewire, and Bonjour. Apple also has trademarks for slogans such as “There’s an app for that” and “Think different”. And, trademarks for logos like Bonjour, AirPlay, ColorSync, Firewire and Mac. Apple has these trademarks and many many more.
Patent
A patent is a right granted by the law to an invention’s owner that forbids others from making or using the invention without permission. The patent also forbids the selling or importing of the invention without permission.
Apple has patents on its products as well as on some of its processes. Apple’s patents are very detailed and contain advanced technology. Apple has patents on all its iPhones, iPads and Macs. Apple has also patented technological features that it adds to its product. For instance, Apple has a patent for an augmented reality system.
Trade secrets
A trade secret includes any business information within a company that is confidential because it gives the company a competitive edge. A trade secret would include secrets as to manufacturing processes as well as commercial secrets. Also included are methods of sales and distribution, lists of customers and suppliers, strategies for advertising.
Apple has many trade secrets. Some of these include the various designs and prototypes that Apple has developed through the years. Apple has many marketing trade secrets as well, as it revealed that its considers its surveys a trade secret. Most of Apple’s trade secrets concern products that are in production and upcoming.
Any infringement issues
Apple has the authority to bring infringement claims concerning copyright infringement, unauthorized use of a trademark, violation of use Apple’s product that have a patent, and for anyone person who violates the use of a trade secret.
Apple has filed numerous intellectual property claims. There have been copyright infringement cases filed against Samsung and Google by Apple. There have patent violations filed by Apple against Samsung as well. In a trade secret lawsuit, Apple sued Geek.com. Apple has also been involved in litigation concerning its trademarks and trademark logos. Apple’s legal department keeps a close eye on trademark filings and has disputed filings by Woolworths and by Victoria School of Business and Technology alleging that the logos of these companies too closely resembled Apples.
