It was lawyers at ten paces when luxury brand Cartier took offence over an iPhone app which displayed the time using a look-a-like of a Cartier watch.
f you’ve got an iPhone and managed to download Digitopolis’ Fake Watch apps from the App Store, hang onto it – because Apple has pulled the software following the threat of legal action from Cartier.
The French jeweller and watch manufacturer filed a lawsuit against Apple last Friday when it discovered the free Fake Watch and US99c Fake Watch Gold apps, which let you display the time on a “look-alike famous wristwatch” according to software developer Digitopolis. “Choose the style that go well with your style – whether it’s luxury, fashion or sport.”
The freebie Fake Watch allowed a choice from five fakes, while the 99c version supported 11 watches. That these watches bore obviously fake names such as ‘Relax’ for the Rolex copy, ‘Tag Hello’ for Tag Heuer and ‘Carpark’ for Cartier (pretty lame, if you ask us) didn’t make much of a difference to Cartier.
In its action the company alleged that Fake Watch infringed on the Cartier trademark and copyright by mimicking the design of its timepieces.
No stranger to legal action as either the instigator or recipient, Apple promptly withdrew both apps and Cartier followed by withdrawing its suit. There’s been no word on if Cartier has commenced similar action against Digitopolis directly.