Apple withdraws suit against German cafe

BONN, Germany, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Apple has dropped its lawsuit against a German coffee shop over its similar fruit-shaped logo, officials said.

Christin Romer opened Apfelkind (Apple child), in May 2011, and in September of that year received a letter from Apple headquarters in California regarding her logo, The Local.de reported Friday.

Romer commissioned the logo -- a red apple with a cutout of a child's silhouette -- and put it on cushions, cups, chairs and delivery bike at her cafe.

Apple alleged that Romer's logo may cause confusion with their logo, an apple with a bite mark. The company asked Romer to withdraw her trademark rights request.

Romer refused to do so and Apple began drawing up a settlement agreement.

"The thing is, it was almost flattering to hear from Apple," Romer told The Local in October 2011. "I love Apple products -- I love design and am not terribly technical. I organize my cafe with my iPhone and Apple laptop."

Then, last week, Apple suddenly withdrew its litigation against Romer, without any explanation as to why.

Romer is now able to use the logo as she pleases.

"I love the logo and have used it everywhere," she said in 2011. "I wanted to do something like Starbucks, and have the logo as my trademark. I was even thinking of eventually expanding and creating a franchise business so other people could open up other Apfelkind cafes, which is why I wanted to register the trademark."