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Apple sues Amazon over App Store name

Accuses retailer of unfair competition.

Apple has launched a lawsuit over online retailer Amazon's use of the App Store name.

According to a Bloomberg report, it claims that Amazon is in breach of its trademark and guilty of unfair competition.

The retailer started using the App Store term earlier this year in relation to a proposed store for Android products. Apple claims it has ramped up its use of the branding in recent months while advertising the forthcoming Angry Birds Rio game.

"Amazon has begun improperly using Apple's App Store mark in connection with Amazon's mobile-software developer program," Apple said in the complaint, insisting that it had unlawfully used the App Store term to solicit the support of software developers.

Apple's filing claimed that it had contacted Amazon three times to ask it to stop using the term but had not received a "substantive response".

"We've asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers," said Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet.

Amazon has refused to comment on the litigation.

Earlier this year Microsoft launched a legal challenge against Apple's trademark, claiming "'App store' is a generic name that Apple should not be permitted to usurp for its exclusive use. Competitors should be free to use 'app store' to identify their own stores and the services offered in connection with those stores."