Overview

• In early August, Apple sued regional theater operator Apple Cinemas in federal court, accusing it of willful trademark infringement and seeking unspecified damages plus a court order to halt the chain’s use of the name.
• The complaint highlights Apple Cinemas’ recent West Coast opening in San Francisco and planned nationwide rollout near Apple’s headquarters and retail stores as evidence of intentional consumer confusion.
• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused Apple Cinemas’ 2024 trademark applications over potential overlap with Apple’s existing marks, but that decision did not resolve the federal infringement claim.
• Apple Cinemas issued a public response asserting its name stems from a planned Apple Valley Mall location and represents over a decade of independent, legally compliant branding.
• The case remains in the pleading phase with no court ruling yet, and forthcoming hearings are expected to focus on trademark strength, relatedness of services and actual confusion evidence.