Apple has filed a lawsuit against Amazon in the US, claiming that the name of its Appstore, which hosts Android apps for download, is deliberately misleading.
Apple spokeswoman, Kristin Huhuet said ‘It will confuse and mislead customers.’
The company has, according to the lawsuit, contacted Amazon three times to demand that it stops using the name.
In the suit, Apple claims that ‘Consumers of mobile software downloads are likely to be confused as to whether Amazon’s mobile software download service is sponsored or approved by Apple.’
Apple is currently in the process of attempting to trademark the App Store name and has filed an application with US authorities. Microsoft has asked for the trademark application to be rejected. It claims that App Store is a generic term that is ‘commonly used by companies, governments and individuals that offer apps.’
Despite the dispute over its name, Amazon’s Appstore opened for business today with 3600 apps available for download, including the exclusive Angry Birds Rio, according to the company. Unlike Google’s Android Market, apps on Amazon’s store have to be approved prior to being made available.
Apps in the Amazon store are laid out in a similar way to products on its main site, providing customers with familiar navigation. It’s available either through a web browser or as an app on an Android phone.
Amazon hasn’t yet announced plans to open the Appstore in the UK.
