Apple is not pleased with the “Apple-Man” moniker that indie film director Vasyl Moskalenko intends to use for a comedy picture in development, and the Cupertino business has filed an opposition to Moskalenko’s “Apple-Man” trademark registration application. (In Canada, through iPhone).
Moskalenko launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for “Apple-Man,” an action comedy film about a part-human, part-apple superhero who can levitate fruits, in 2020, and now that the film is in post-production, Apple is objecting to the moniker “Apple-Man.” Moskalenko reveals in a YouTube video that Apple contested the Apple-Man trademark and “started trial processes,” giving him a 467-page document “full of legal lingo.”
“My film has absolutely nothing to do with the Apple business,” Moskalenko adds in the video. “I’ve never mentioned MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, or anything else. There isn’t a single word.” Moskalenko describes his film as being about apples, or “the fruits.” Apple appears to be afraid that people may link “Apple-Man” with or approve of Apple.
Moskalenko writes in an email to Apple that he has “nothing but admiration” for the firm and that his video has nothing to do with the iPhone, MacBooks, or other Apple goods.
Dear Apple company, I understand that you want to protect your business and your product from any negative impact in any possible way, but under no circumstances do I have any intent to harm your brand with my movie. There are no negative associations or negative connotations with this production.
And I would be happy to forward you a final cut to judge for yourself. I’m not going to produce cell phones, computers, software, anything that might be deemed to conflict with your brand. I just want to make a comedy movie about a superhero with a super power that is related with everyone’s favorite fruit.
Moskalenko said he is “open to any conversations” and expects to achieve a deal with Apple. He also told iPhone in Canada that he is concerned about having to use his Kickstarter funds on legal fees.
Moskalenko is afraid that if his trademark registration is refused, Apple would be able to demand that the video be erased after its premiere. “It appears to be trademark bullying,” he told iPhone in Canada.
Apple has been involved in several large trademark battles with designs that appear to have nothing to do with the corporation. Apple rejected Prepear’s trademark last year because the pear-shaped emblem was too similar to Apple’s own. Prepear and Apple were able to resolve the issue when Prepear made minor changes to the pear’s leaf design.