Apple Sues Small Business With Pear Logo Because 'People Can Get Confused' Users are furious at Apple's attitude toward the five-employee company.

By Entrepreneur Staff

@Superhealthykids via Instagram

Technology giant Apple is apparently opposed to a five-employee startup using a pear logo, even if they offer something totally different. The company in question is called Prepear, an app for cooking recipes. Apple has filed a lawsuit because it says the pear looks like the brand's iconic apple and can cause confusion among consumers.

The founder of Prepear, Russell Monson, has taken to social networks to ask for help with a Change.org petition to publicize the case and raise funds for the battle against Apple. "Apple has opposed small businesses with fruit-related logos by taking costly legal action even when they look nothing like Apple, or are not in the same line of business," Monson writes in the petition. "Apple has opposed the trademark application for our small business, Prepear, requiring that we change our obviously pear-shaped logo, which is used to represent our brand in the recipe management and meal planning business. Before attacking us, Apple has opposed dozens of other trademark applications filed by small businesses with fruit-related logos. Many of those were changed or abandoned. Most small businesses can't afford the tens of thousands of dollars it would take to fight Apple."

Related: Apple CEO Tim Cook Hits Billionaire Status

The statement continues: "We are a very small company with only five team members, and the legal costs of our fight for the right of all small business owners to be able to develop their own logo without fear has already cost us many thousands of dollars and the sad layoff. of one of the team members. We are defending ourselves against Apple not only to maintain our logo, but to send the message to big tech companies that bullying small ones has consequences."

The comments in the petition are varied, but people seem very angry. "It doesn't look like an apple at all," reads one. "Apple, you do not own the fruit images of the world. Be leaders, not bullies, please."

The petition has reached nearly 35,000 signatures as of this writing.

Wavy Line
Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

Editor's Pick

She's Been Coding Since Age 7 and Presented Her Life-Saving App to Tim Cook Last Year. Now 17, She's on Track to Solve Even Bigger Problems.
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Legal

How You Structure Your Business to the IRS Can Affect More Than Your Tax Bill. Here's What You Need to Know.

From startup to going public, the business formation structure you choose affects your company in many ways, including how you file your taxes and how much you owe the IRS.

Leadership

The Real Reason Why The Return to Office Movement is Failing is Revealed in New Study

There is a vivid sign of the disconnect between employees and their workplace, a glaring indication that companies need to revise their scripts to improve their hybrid and remote work policies.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Marketing

8 Ways to Do Big-Time Marketing Without Spending a Fortune

When it comes to building your brand, how you spend your money is at least as important as how much money you spend.

Growing a Business

Subscribers Exclusive Event: Discover How These 2 Founders Turned Their Side Hustle into a Million-Dollar Lifestyle Brand

Learn how you can transform your personal brand into a thriving business empire with co-founders of The Skinny Confidential