Tech giant Apple is suing online retailer Amazon for the use of the word “App Store” in a move similar to its existing legal action against Microsoft.
Apple filed a complaint late last week in the Federal Court for the Northern District of California, applying for an injunction that would stop Amazon from using the term.
“Consumers of mobile software downloads are likely to be confused as to whether Amazon’s mobile software download service is sponsored or approved by Apple,” Apple said in its complaint, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“We’ve asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers,” a spokesperson said.
Microsoft argues the term can be applied to any company as apps are now becoming more popular and the major mobile manufacturers all have app markets.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
