Apple sues Amazon over App Store trademark, Microsoft sues B&N over Android

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

Apple has filed suit against Amazon.com, seeking to stop Amazon from using the term App Store to describe their Android market.

"We've asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers," said Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple.

Apple claims they'd asked Amazon to change the name three times and, not getting a response, they escalated to litigation. While App Store sounds generic it wasn't a popular term before the iPhone App Store became popular. Whether that's enough for Apple to win the suit will be up to the courts.

Microsoft has also filed suit against Barnes & Nobles, claiming the Nook and Android violate Microsoft's mobile patents. Guess it's not a safe day to be a bookstore. Given that HTC is already paying Microsoft licensing fees for their use of Android, could Microsoft end up making more money from Android than Google does, or than they themselves do from Windows Phone?

Either way, it doesn't seem to be a safe day to be a bookstore. Anyone think Borders is already lawyering up?

[Bloomberg, Microsoft via Android Central]

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.