Scores victory on App Store slogan

Apple has been awarded a US trademark for the phrase "There's an app for that," reports note. A filing was originally submitted to the USPTO in December 2009, and claims commercial use dating back to January 26th of that year. The slogan lies at the core of Apple's efforts to promote the App Store and the iPhone, and has become a common staple of pop culture, often parodied.

The trademark applies under the Advertising, Business and Retail Services, Computer and Software Services and Scientific Services categories. In detail, it covers use for "retail store services featuring computer software provided via the Internet and other computer and electronic communication networks" and "retail store services featuring computer software for use on handheld mobile digital electronic devices and other consumer electronics." Essentially it blocks any other carrier or phone maker from using the slogan in their own marketing, possibly even if a phrase only sounds similar to the original.

The expression should still be fair game for parody, but mostly by artists and the general public. Apple has generally steered away from trademarking slogans, although it does own some. Most notable may be "think different," which originally surfaced in marketing in 1997. Apple applied to renew the trademark in December of last year.

by MacNN Staff