Apple Legal has been busy filing new trademarks for Apple lately. In this report, we specifically cover trademark applications for the “Freeform” icon, “CallKit”, “Force Touch” in connection with the MacBook trackpad, the Ultra Watch app for water “Depth” and finally the image mark for Apple TV all in one new context: their logo on soccer jerseys (as highlighted in our cover graphic), soccer shirts, sports jackets, warm-up pats and much more. It is currently unknown whether this is for advertising purposes or to sell merchandise at sporting events.
Freeform Icon
While Apple applied for the “Freeform” text mark in Hong Kong and the US back in December 2022, in Hong Kong they filed the symbol and logo for Freeform in two separate applications.
The first symbolic mark was filed under Application No. 306198364 and specifically under International Class 009, which includes: “Computer software; Downloadable computer software to facilitate real-time collaboration, collaborative creation, sharing, viewing, displaying, editing, annotating, storing and distributing photos, images, graphics, documents, presentations, data, videos and multimedia content and communicating via text and video related to the collaboration process and co-created content; downloadable computer software for creating, sharing, viewing, displaying, editing, annotating, storing and distributing photos, images, graphics, documents, presentations, data, videos and multimedia content; downloadable computer programs for word processing.”
Apple has filed this trademark in the United States under application number 97844477 and specifically under international class 009 with the same wording as in Hong Kong.
The second Icon trademark was filed under Application No. 306198535 and specifically under International Class 042, which covers: “Providing non-downloadable software; Providing online non-downloadable software for facilitating real-time collaboration, collaborating, sharing, viewing, displaying, editing, annotating, storing and distributing photos, images, graphics, documents, presentations, data, videos and multimedia content, and for communication via text and video relating to the collaborative process and co-created content; providing online non-downloadable content software for creating, sharing, viewing, displaying, editing, annotating, storing and distributing photos, images, graphics, documents, presentations, data, video and multimedia content; providing online non-downloadable word processing software; cloud computing services; cloud computing featuring software for facilitating real-time collaboration, co-creation, sharing, viewing, displaying, editing, annotating, storing and distribution of photos, images, graphics, documents, presentations, data, videos and multimedia content and for communication via text and video about the collaboration process and co-created content.
CallKit
Apple has also filed the “CallKit” trademark under Hong Kong application 306179176 and specifically under International Classification 9, which in this case reads “Computer software; Application Development Software”.
Apple also registered this trademark in the United States under Application Number 97814241 under the same International Class 009 with slightly different wording: “Application development software; computer software for use as an application programming interface (API) for building software applications.” A “sample” was also attached to Apple’s application, as shown below.
(Click on the pattern below to enlarge)
Apple copy
The US Patent Office defines a pattern as an example of how a company will actually use its mark in the marketplace with the goods or services in its application. It’s what consumers see when they consider purchasing goods or subscribing to services Apple offers in connection with their brand.
force touch
Another trademark application filed by Apple concerns “Force Touch” in connection with Apple’s MacBook trackpad. Apple has registered this trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under application number 97859615 and specifically under international class 009, which covers: “Computer hardware; computer peripherals; touch pads; track pads; trackpad type computer mouse; computer cursor control devices, namely, trackpads; computer mouse in the nature of a trackpad sold as a component part of computers; Computer cursor control devices, namely trackpads, sold as part of computers.”
Apple has provided a template to the USPTO to verify the context of the trademark as shown below.
(Click on the image to enlarge it greatly)
Apple Watch Ultra: Depth app icon
Apple has registered a “design mark” in relation to the Apple Watch Ultra app known as the “Depth app”. Depth, water temperature and the maximum depth of the session while you were underwater.
Apple filed its design mark under application 97799910 specifically under International Class 009, which includes: “Downloadable computer software for measuring and displaying temperature, time and water depth information.”
Apple has provided the US Patent and Trademark Office with a sample as shown below.
Apple TV: Design Mark – New Context
Finally, Apple filed the Apple TV design mark with a new context. According to Trademark Application No. 97796866, Apple is likely to enter the ‘merchandising’ business, as seen here in the description of International Class 025: ‘Apparel; clothing jackets; sports jackets; fleece jackets; down jackets; windproof jackets; rain jackets; shirts; t-shirts; sports shirts; Tops; athletic uniforms; sweatshirts; hooded sweatshirts; Pullover; scarves; Jerseys being clothing; sports jerseys; Shorts; Pants; warm-up suits; tracksuits; Gloves; gloves for clothing; ties being clothing; ties; football shirts; European football shirts; sleepwear; Underwear; socks; bracelets being clothing; footwear; Sneakers; headgear; caps being headgear; visors being headgear; sun visors being headgear; hats; headbands.”
