Apple has sued Ukrainian film director Vasyl Moskalenko, who wrote and directed the Kickstarter-backed action-comedy movie Apple-Man, for trademark infringement.

Apple’s claim is that there are “likelihood of confusion” and “dilution by blurring”.

Here’s the film’s trailer, shot in the director’s apartment during lockdown:

Folks with longer memories will remember that this is not the first time “Apple” has been involved in litigation over its name.

Way back in 1978, the Beatles sued Steve Jobs (really Apple Corps. vs. Apple Computer.) Apple Computer settled by paying the Beatles $80,000 and promising to stay out of the music business.

In 1991, after the integration of MIDI (remember the sosumi system sound?) Apple Computer paid another $26.5 million to Apple Corps.

Almost 30 years later, with the rise of iTunes, the two parties finally settled. From Wikipedia:

“As revealed on 5 February 2007, Apple Inc. and Apple Corps reached a settlement of their trademark dispute under which Apple Inc. will own all of the trademarks related to “Apple” and will license certain of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for their continued use. The settlement ends the ongoing trademark lawsuit between the companies, with each party bearing its own legal costs, and Apple Inc. will continue using its name and logos on iTunes. The settlement includes terms that are confidential, although newspaper accounts at the time stated that Apple Computer was buying out Apple Corps’ trademark rights for a total of $500 million.”

My take: still not sure anyone can own the trademark on a fruit. Apple, surely you recognize that Instant Karma‘s gonna get yah in the end! Come on Apple, grow up and just make a deal to license Apple-Man on Apple TV+.