The Internicola Law Firm, P.C.

Southern California Media Company Claims Apple Stole Its Service Mark

The Apple Company has found itself in the midst of another lawsuit, this time over a service mark. According to a Southern California media company, Apple stole the name "iAds" and illegally used it to title the new iPhone's new mobile advertising platform. Innovative Media Group, an online ad firm based in Costa Mesa, California, is now filing suit against apple for the "blatant and willful" service mark infringement. 

An excerpt from the suit reads, "It appears that Apple's strategy with respect to Innovate Media and the 'iAds' mark is just another sequence in a pattern of conduct by Apple, of ignoring and trampling the intellectual property rights of others." 

This claim is supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which has 5 listings for the name "iAds." Two of those listings are owned by Innovative Media with documented services that are incredibly similar to the functions of Apple's iAds platform.

Apple's history does not support a case for innocence. According the suit, "'iPhone,' 'iPad,' and even 'Apple' were all marks held by third parties, which Apple used without the owners' permission, and ultimately took over."