A Swiss trade journal (Google Translate, via ArsTechnica) reports Apple may have to delay its Apple Watch introduction in Switzerland, due to an existing trademark held by a watch firm there.
The public broadcaster RTSpublished the 1985 French-language filing on Thursday, clearly showing that a company called Leonard Timepieces has the trademark for an image of an apple with the English word “APPLE.” That trademark, which only applies to watches and watch parts, lasts for only 30 years. It’s set to expire on December 5, 2015.
Unless Apple comes to an agreement with the Swiss firm, customers in the country will be forced to either wait several months to buy an Apple Watch, or cross the border into France or Germany to grab one.
Switzerland is not on the list of first-wave release countries for the Watch. Initially, only customers in nine countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. will be able to order the device.
