5 Contentious Design Debates that Caused a Stir Online
Design disagreements pop up like clockwork - some are easier to stomach than others. From accidental theft to calculated imitation, these design replicas rarely go unnoticed, stirring up heated brand beef and, occasionally, serious legal battles.
When crafting a logo, originality needs to be your top priority - for reasons beyond avoiding unwanted disputes. It's essential to establish a distinct brand identity that truly represents you. There's a fine line between inspiration and outright copying, and these logo design dispute examples serve as a stark reminder of the perils of crossing it.
01. Meghan Markle vs Porreres
The Duchess of Sussex has had her share of design controversies with her personal brand. After facing a trademark rejection for her original name, American Riviera Orchard, she returned with As Ever. However, she soon found herself in trouble again, this time with the Spanish town of Porreres.
Porreres swiftly called out the similarities between As Ever's coat of arms logo design and their own, specifically focusing on the central palm tree and swooping birds. Despite the town's mayor claiming Meghan had "perverted" their identity, no legal action was taken due to financial constraints.
02. Apple vs Prepear
Sometimes design disputes baffle even the most logical minds. This was the case with tech giant Apple targeting the small meal planning app, Prepear, over its pear-themed logo. Despite the distinct difference in color, composition, and fruit theme, Apple claimed that Prepear "created a similar commercial impression."
While it's hard to agree with Apple's claims, Prepear eventually agreed to adjust its logo to avoid causing a "dilution of distinctiveness."
03. X vs Multiply
Elon Musk's X logo, modeled after the mathematical double-struck capital X Unicode character, has consistently found itself in disputes. One such case was with Virginia-based PR firm, Multiply.
Multiply accused Musk of stealing its identity, claiming it had been using its X logo since 2019 and had experienced consumer confusion due to the similarity. In response, Multiply demanded unspecified monetary damages and requested the court to ban X from using its logo.
04. Kanye vs Walmart
In 2021, Walmart and Kanye West's brand Yeezy locked horns over a sun-shaped logo design. Walmart accused Yeezy of infringing its trademark, arguing the risk of "confusion" and a "false suggestion of connection."
Yeezy responded by stating it had no desire to tarnish its reputation by associating itself with Walmart. The brands eventually settled the dispute for an undisclosed amount.
05. Starbucks vs Starbuds Flowers
In an unexpected turn of events, Starbucks found itself in a logo battle with New York-based marijuana retailer Starbuds Flowers. Starbucks accused Starbuds of infringing upon several of its intellectual properties, including its double-ringed green circle, siren design, and font.
Starbucks argued the designs could lead to consumer confusion, and that the similarities "clearly" traded on the recognition of its extensive consumer recognition. Starbucks demanded Starbuds to remove its similar logo from its van and destroy its branding from all products, as well as handing over any profits it had garnered since using the alleged copycat logo design.
These logo design disputes serve as warning tales of what not to do when creating a logo. Ensure you're steering clear of overreach and the potential legal consequences that come with it.
- The importance of originality in logo design lies not only in preventing disputes but also in establishing a unique brand identity that truly represents you.
- In the case of Meghan Markle's personal brand, Porreres accused As Ever of copying elements from their coat of arms logo design, such as the central palm tree and swooping birds.
- Apple challenged the small meal planning app, Prepear, over its pear-themed logo, despite the distinct differences in color, composition, and fruit theme.
- In 2021, Kanye West's brand Yeezy got embroiled in a logo battle with Walmart over a sun-shaped design, with both sides eventually settling the dispute for an undisclosed amount.
- Starbucks accused the New York-based marijuana retailer Starbuds Flowers of infringing upon several of its intellectual properties, including its double-ringed green circle, siren design, and font.
- Elon Musk's X logo, modeled after the mathematical double-struck capital X Unicode character, has faced accusations of theft from Virginia-based PR firm Multiply, who claimed it had been using its X logo since 2019.
