Swiss watchmaker Swatch has filed an objection to Apple 's long expected launch of an iWatch claiming that the proposed brandname is too close to its own iSwatch.
Swatch\'s CEO, Nick Hayek told Bloomberg News that the company has filed objections to Apple\'s attempt to trademark the iWatch brandname in an unspecified number of countries.
"This is the normal procedure to protect your own brand name," Hayek said. "We react like this for all other brand names that we have protected."
Apple has long been rumoured to be planning a smartwatch product, and the filing of trademarks did fuel that speculation. However, it is noted that Apple often files preemptive trademarks simply to lock them up just in case it wants them later on.
Apple has faced long running battles over trademarks in various countries, and came close to losing the iPhone trademark in Brazil and the iPad name in China. Both cases were later settled with the trademark owners.
Countering this situation, Apple may be able to argue that the iSwatch brand is itself based on Apple\'s own use of i before Name in products.
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