Categories: Archived Post

Lawsuit says Apple can’t trademark the term ‘Memoji’

Another day, another lawsuit. A company called Social Technologies has filed a second lawsuit that claims Apple can’t trademark the term, “Memoji,” reports AppleInsider.

Memoji is the name used for iOS’s personalized “Animoji” characters that can be created and customized right within Messages by choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality. 

A 2018  complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California claims Apple’s Memoji mark infringes on a similar trademark — “MEMOJI” — currently in use by Social Technologies, which makes Android apps.

According to the suit, Social Tech filed an intent-to-use application for the MEMOJI mark in April 2016, but before registration was obtained, Apple made a play for its version of the name. 

In today’s filing at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York submitted on Monday, the company claims Apple is improperly and fraudulently identifying Memoji as a registered trademark, despite not owning the mark in the U.S.

Dennis Sellers

Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.

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