Apples In Stereo

The Beatles seem to be absent in all this hubbub:

Apple Computer is taking on The Big Apple — or at least its eco-friendly logo.

New York officials are biting into a trademarked Apple with their logo for the GreeNYC campaign — or so claims the technology giant run by billionaire Steve Jobs.

California-based Apple Inc. is taking on the Big Apple over a federal application by NYC & Company for its own apple logo. But city officials say the design resemblance is only skin deep.

“We believe the ‘infinity apple’ design and its mission to create environmental awareness are unique and distinctive and do not infringe upon the Apple computer brand,” said Kimberly Spell, of NYC & Company, the city’s tourism and marketing arm.

NYC & Company developed the bisected apple topped by a small stalk and leaf for its campaign to promote environmentalism. It sent the new logo to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in May 2007.

The GreeNYC apple was to start appearing on bus shelters, hybrid gasoline-electric taxis and cotton shopping bags, all part of the city’s efforts to get greener.

The Apple folks challenged the application early this year, insisting their internationally known logo was the one true corporate representation of tree-borne fruit.

Not only that, the company said, the New York logo was “likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception in the minds of consumers.”