Apple to clash with Russian political party over brand name

The administration of the US-based corporation plans to register two trademarks in Russia - "Yabloko" and "Apple." The word 'yabloko' translates into English as 'apple' and is widely used in the Russian language in relation to Apple's products.

Apple has reportedly applied to the Russian Patent Agency, Rospatent. However, the word 'yabloko' acts as the name for political party "Yabloko." Spokespeople for the party have already expressed concerns in connection with Apple's initiatives because the applications apply to several categories of goods and services including those, for which the brand has already been registered.

Yabloko party leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that should Apple wish to sell its products in Russia under the Russian name "Yabloko, " then the party will have questions to the American company.

"In Russia, they are known as Apple. The Russian word "Yabloko" is our brand. If the political brand coincides with the commercial one, I do not think we will be fine with it. We will have to look into the problem, and i do not exclude a possibility for a legal action to be taken. We are not ready to give up the Russian word 'yabloko', and we do not have any claims for the English word," he said.

Noteworthy, Apple has already registered more than a hundred of trademarks in the Russian Federation, including several in the Cyrillic alphabet.