Judge Denies Apple Injunction Against Amazon's Appstore - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Judge Denies Apple Injunction Against Amazon's Appstore

amazon appstore iconA federal judge has denied Apple's preliminary injunction demanding Amazon stop using the term "appstore" for its Android marketplace. Apple sued Amazon back in March and asked U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton to immediately order Amazon to cease using the term. Apple believes the term is trademark protected.

Several weeks ago, the judge in the case expressed her skepticism regarding Apple's argument that "App Store" should be a non-generic trademark and today ruled that Apple has not thus far established "a likelihood of confusion" between Apple and Amazon's app stores.

A preliminary injunction is an order by the court to restrain a particular activity, usually ordered if the judge believes there is substantial likelihood of success on the merits of the case, or if there is a substantial threat of irreparable damage if the injunction is not granted, among other reasons

Apple believes use of the term by other companies can "confuse and mislead customers." Apple has numerous cease and desist letters to companies using the term, including the owner of pcappstore.com, and open source startup Amahi.

Judge Hamilton set October 2012 as a trial date.

Popular Stories

apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday

Monday November 2, 2026 1:22 am PST by
Apple is releasing five new products this Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from Friday: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
Apple Logo Gradient 16x9 1

Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming

Monday November 2, 2026 7:27 am PST by
Apple's busiest season isn't over yet. Far from it. With two hardware launch dates still to come in November, plus software updates and new smart home accessories running into December, there's more on the way from Apple before the end of 2026, so be sure to stick around. Below, we've rounded up what's still coming, along with one date in particular that's worth watching if you're a holiday...
iPad Pro 2024 vs Air 2024 Feature

Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027

Sunday November 1, 2026 7:27 am PST by
After announcing a new iPad mini with an OLED display earlier this month, Apple plans to release new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and entry-level iPad models in the first half of 2027, according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the next iPad Air will also feature an OLED display, while he expects the next iPad Pro to be equipped with a...

Top Rated Comments

200 months ago
As much as well all love Apple, they're being the bullies in the sandbox here. They requested the owner of "pcappstore.com" to turn over the site to them? Honestly, that's just ridiculous.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlgolson Avatar
200 months ago
good. No one will get "confused" because Amazon has an App Store. I think its a generic name. Windows, Safari, Mac, Apple, Macintosh, all existed before Apple and Microsoft.
Well, sort of. The issue arises because if a company doesn't defend its trademarks, they automatically are termed "generic" and they lose them.

If Apple wants to keep its trademarks, it MUST attempt to defend them. Doesn't mean they're right, but its unsurprising that Apple is pursuing the issue.

Glad Apple didn't win that... 'App Store' is pretty generic and sounds more like a descriptive term than a branding.
They didn't lose the trial, just a motion asking for a preliminary injunction.

The trial is scheduled for next year.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
200 months ago
Yet, interestingly enough, the term "application" was used all over the Windows file system tools, since at least 2000:


Nice touch on the "Windows Apps" folder ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kdarling Avatar
200 months ago
When I was a PC user, I never really heard of the word application (Program instead), until I switch to my first mac.

Yet, interestingly enough, the term "application" was used all over the Windows file system tools, since at least 2000:

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kdarling Avatar
200 months ago
I don't mean that Apple should control the term but has it been established who first used the term.

Come on, we only need to look back 5 years to get this information. How hard could it be.

We need to look back at least fifty years, not five.

Back in 1960 there were groups and books dedicated to Computer Applications, (http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Applications-1960-Proceedings-Symposium/dp/B0006DIAFS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310007027&sr=1-2) and I'm pretty sure the use of the word with computers dates back at least another ten years to the early 1950s.

As for "app", my resume stated Embedded Application Programmer back in the early 1980s, and we used "embedded app" all the time. I guarantee you that "app" dates back as long as "application" does.

I've also already posted articles from 2000 and 2001 where Windows Mobile and Palm writers talked about "apps" for their devices.

The upshot is: neither "application" nor "app" is a new term.

NOBODY in the ENTIRE TECH WORLD ever used the term "app" or "app store" until Apple coined these phrase, and Apple trademarked it as well!

You've obviously missed all the months of discussion about this topic. For one thing, the very similar word "Appstore" was trademarked years before Apple did, by another company who later gave it up. So it's not a totally new idea.

All these other wannabe companies, like Amazon, are all trying to hitch a free ride on Apple's coattails, when Apple did all the hard work of blazing this trail for them and trademarking this term for themselves!

All the above said, I do agree that Apple was the first to widely use the slang term "app store" instead of "application store". Not sure that merits a trademark, though.

If you don't believe that Apple can trademark "App Store" and keep it for their own use (and they sure as hell should be able to do both), then how in the world can Microsoft get away with trademarking the COMPLETELY GENERIC TERM "Windows"?

"Windows" does not generically refer to an operating system. "App store" generically refers to an application store. Even Apple's top brass used "app store" generically in reference to their competitor's markets.

it would be like someone trying to come out with their own "iTunes Store". It's totally ridiculous, and Apple will ultimately win this trial.

It's not like that at all. "iTunes" is a made up word and clearly belongs to Apple. "App" is a slang word that's been in use by developers for decades.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RobertMartens Avatar
200 months ago

NOBODY in the ENTIRE TECH WORLD ever used the term "app" or "app store" until Apple coined these phrase, and Apple trademarked it as well!

We are going to need a citation please.

Your post started off strong but I'm afraid the Windows rant made you come off a bit psychotic. Just trying give you some friendly advice.:)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
'Super Mario Odyssey' Can Now Run on Apple TV Thanks to AI
'Super Mario Odyssey' Can Now Run on Apple TV Thanks to AI
24 minutes ago
How 'Resident Evil' Director Zach Cregger Uses His iPhone to Make Movies
How 'Resident Evil' Director Zach Cregger Uses His iPhone to Make Movies
2 hours ago
HomePod Mini 2's Amount of RAM Confirmed
HomePod Mini 2's Amount of RAM Confirmed
2 hours ago
Apple TV's '12 Days of Snoopy' Special Arrives November 13
Apple TV's '12 Days of Snoopy' Special Arrives November 13
2 hours ago
Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget
Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget
3 hours ago
Apple Releases Xcode 27.3 Beta With Three New Features
Apple Releases Xcode 27.3 Beta With Three New Features
4 hours ago
Apple Will Check Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content Starting in iOS 27.3
Apple Will Check Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content Starting in iOS 27.3
5 hours ago
macOS 27.3 Brings Live Activities to Macs Without Dynamic Island
macOS 27.3 Brings Live Activities to Macs Without Dynamic Island
6 hours ago
Apple TV Reportedly Planning 'Silo' Spinoff
Apple TV Reportedly Planning 'Silo' Spinoff
7 hours ago
Is It Worth Buying a Titanium Apple Watch?
Is It Worth Buying a Titanium Apple Watch?
7 hours ago
macOS 27.3 Includes an Important Security Fix
macOS 27.3 Includes an Important Security Fix
7 hours ago
Massive Sale Hits Apple Watch Ultra 3 With Record Low $250 Discounts
Massive Sale Hits Apple Watch Ultra 3 With Record Low $250 Discounts
9 hours ago
Does HomePod Mini 2 Have Improved Sound? Here's What Reviews Say
Does HomePod Mini 2 Have Improved Sound? Here's What Reviews Say
9 hours ago
macOS 27.3 Makes Markdown Files Easier to Read
macOS 27.3 Makes Markdown Files Easier to Read
9 hours ago
HomeView Pre-Order Returns to $289.99 on Amazon
HomeView Pre-Order Returns to $289.99 on Amazon
10 hours ago
Apple May Phase Out Non-Touch High-End MacBook Pros
Apple May Phase Out Non-Touch High-End MacBook Pros
10 hours ago
Apple's Insider Trading Policy Now Covers Prediction Markets
Apple's Insider Trading Policy Now Covers Prediction Markets
11 hours ago
'Stick' Season 2 Premieres Today on Apple TV
'Stick' Season 2 Premieres Today on Apple TV
11 hours ago
iPhone 18e Rumored to Focus on Chip Upgrade With Few Major Changes
iPhone 18e Rumored to Focus on Chip Upgrade With Few Major Changes
11 hours ago
Google Maps Updated to Fully Support iPhone Duo Displays
Google Maps Updated to Fully Support iPhone Duo Displays
11 hours ago
Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta
Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta
23 hours ago
Apple Music's New Selfie Sing Feature Lets You Record Karaoke Videos
Apple Music's New Selfie Sing Feature Lets You Record Karaoke Videos
1 day ago
iPhone Jailbreak Gets Past Lockdown Mode and Survives an Update
iPhone Jailbreak Gets Past Lockdown Mode and Survives an Update
1 day ago
iPadOS 27.3 Expands Siri Mode to Camera App
iPadOS 27.3 Expands Siri Mode to Camera App
1 day ago
Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launches November 11
Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launches November 11
1 day ago
Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals: Save Hundreds on MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and More
Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals: Save Hundreds on MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and More
1 day ago
Apple Fitness+ Gets Gym Strength Plans in iOS 27.3
Apple Fitness+ Gets Gym Strength Plans in iOS 27.3
1 day ago
iOS 27.3 Adding New StandBy Mode Features to iPhone 11 and Newer
iOS 27.3 Adding New StandBy Mode Features to iPhone 11 and Newer
1 day ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
1 day ago
iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Apple Intelligence to China
iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Apple Intelligence to China
1 day ago