That's awfully irritating to the folks at Apple. Tuesday the company filed its third lawsuit in less than two months against an alleged iMac knock-off artist, this time against Japanese computer maker Sotec. The string of suits shows Apple is willing to fight to protect its blueberry patch. Apple and the accused companies aren't talking, but legal experts say the question isn't easily answered. You can't say that it's a no-brainer whether they'll win or lose.
Trade dress is the legal term for a product's distinctive aesthetic design features.
Apple will have to prove that the new machines look so much like iMacs that consumers could think Apple made them. However, the similarities may not constitute legal infringement. First, Apple will have to prove that the iMac's design features are distinctive. That will probably be the easy part. It's becoming an icon.