- By Prateek Levi
- Wed, 06 Aug 2025 01:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Apple has taken legal action against Apple Cinemas, a Massachusetts-based theatre chain, accusing it of trademark infringement. The tech giant filed a lawsuit in a Boston federal court, claiming that the cinema chain is improperly capitalising on its globally recognised brand name as it attempts rapid expansion.
According to the filing, Apple argues that the name “Apple Cinemas” could easily mislead customers and weaken the identity of Apple’s brand—especially as the theatre chain moves into areas where Apple already operates retail stores.
ALSO READ: OpenAI Releases gpt-oss-120b And gpt-oss-20b: Powerful Free Models You Can Run Locally
The conflict intensified after Apple Cinemas opened a new location in San Francisco, just miles away from Apple’s Cupertino headquarters. Though Apple Cinemas has been around in New England since 2013, its plan to open 100 new locations across North America over the next decade appears to have raised concerns within Apple.
Apple’s complaint also highlights that some landlords may have confused Apple Cinemas with the tech company, which helped the theatre chain secure favourable leasing deals in malls. With Apple Stores often acting as anchor tenants in these malls, the lawsuit alleges that the cinema brand may be using its name to falsely associate itself with Apple’s retail presence.
Social media posts cited in the filing show users questioning whether the two companies are connected, something Apple points to as clear evidence of public confusion. Apple also claims that Apple Cinemas has ignored cease and desist letters and notes that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected the cinema group’s attempts to register its trademarks.
Apple is now asking the court to block the theatre chain from using the “Apple” name altogether and is also seeking monetary damages. The case is officially listed as Apple Inc. v. Sand Media Corp., U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, No. 1:25-cv-12173.