Your product’s logo is the brain and main attraction of your merchandise. Therefore you should be careful in choosing or making it so that you wont face the necessary sanction if you copy or infringe that of the existing similar logo’s.
Here are a few examples.
Variety vs. The Vandals
In April 2010, Variety sued the band The Vandals because of the several images of the original cover design appearing on certain websites. Hence the band continue to claim that they are not responsible for the third party distribution.
The Daily Variety magazine took an instant dislike to the font’s resemblance, for the title of the release is a negative expression of the materialistic culture of Hollywood, a message the magazine company does not want to be associated with.
The case was eventually settled with the band agreeing to redesign the cover art to include a different font.
In April 2011, Skullcandy an extreme sports headphones filed a lawsuit against Skelanimals an accessories and apparel brand of cute skeletal animals.
However, Skelanimals claimed that its logo design have been used since the brand was created in the year 2003. Yet Skullcandy claimed that they are “recognized globally” for their skull, “particularly in the headphones category”.
Apple VS. Apfelkind
Apfelkind (apple child) is a small café in Germany. Apple issued a cease and desist letter to prevent the café from using the image.
Apple stated that the café’s logo could confuse the costumers and might assume that they are affiliated with the giant tech.
In the end, the owner refused to drop her patent application for the logo. The case continues… As Apple’s obstinate fight to sue any company which dares to bare an Apple fruit within their logo.
Nike VS. Point 3 Basketball
When Nike Corporation released its first signature shoe for basketball star Dwayne Wade, basketball hoops and apparel manufacturer Point 3 Basketball filed a claim for trademark infringement.
They claimed that Wade’s shoe is virtually identical to their own. Thus the two brands came up with a mutual agreeable business resolution and Nike Corporation decided to change its logo.
Sony Ericson VS. Clearwire Corporation
Sony Ericson filed a legal action against wireless Internet service provider (WISP) Clearwire Corporation for having a green swirly logo similar with theirs.
Sony demanded a $150,000 in cash from them to cover the legal fees, in addition to three times this amount for the copyright infringement of their logo.
However, Sony decided to drop the lawsuit.