Apple Drops ‘App Store’ Suit Against Amazon
by Brent Dirks
July 9, 2013
The fight between Apple and Amazon over the term "App Store" has come to a close. According to Reuters, Apple has dropped its lawsuit, paving the way for both companies to use the phrase.
Both parties agreed to the dismissal, according to the report:
U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, on Tuesday ordered that the case be dismissed at the companies' request. This came after Apple issued to Amazon a covenant not to sue, eliminating the need for a related Amazon counterclaim. "We no longer see a need to pursue our case," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said. "With more than 900,000 apps and 50 billion downloads, customers know where they can purchase their favorite apps. Martin Glick, a lawyer for Amazon, said in an interview, "This was a decision by Apple to unilaterally abandon the case, and leave Amazon free to use 'appstore.'"The battle has been going on for more than two years. After Amazon opened up its “AppStore” in 2011, Apple sued claiming it too closely resembled its “App Store.” Back in June, it was reported that both parties still couldn’t come to an agreement over the issue, even with a looming August trial date.
