Apple has updated its "Think Different" trademark in a new European Patent and Trademark Office filing, covering it for use across the company's growing line of products.

The filing expands the International Classes to which the trademark can be applied from one to eight. Those classes now cover Apple Watch, Apple Pay, Apple Pencil, iPad, games, business management, subscription services, telecommunications, broadcasting, music, television, educational services, and Siri.

Think Different
Originally filed on February 24, the update is the first time Apple has amended the trademark since 2009, when the iPod was added to its classes, reports Patently Apple.

The slogan first appeared in Apple's 1997 "Think Different" ad campaign, marking Steve Jobs' return to the company after leaving in 1985. The trademark, widely assumed to be a response to IBM's motto "Think", continued to feature in Apple TV and print ads up to the launch of the iMac G4 in 2002, but has not appeared since.


It remains to be seen whether the filing marks a return of the slogan's use in future Apple ad campaigns, or is simply a preventative measure to stop other companies adopting the phrase.

Top Rated Comments

smacrumon Avatar
126 months ago
Unfortunately Apple has its current thinking set at "very same". It’s very apparent Apple’s current strategy is to go for the $, but its trajectory is completely off in terms of great products. If 5SE is really a serious product name and protruding camera lenses continue alongside visible antenna bands and differentiated models-- investors dump your stocks. Apple needs to get back to pure simplicity. The product line up is becoming bloated and worst of all, confusing. The designs look average and the result of compromises. Apple needs to trash its Beats branding-- they’re just not "Apple" quality. These two ads from 2007 and 2008 highlight thinking different with the simplicity and purity of the product design offered and the way in which each product was marketed in a clever fashion. They also communicate the clarity of the Apple brand at the time.
Solar:

Envelope:
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mums Avatar
126 months ago
Too late Apple. Until you think differently again.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Porco Avatar
126 months ago
Are we sure they didn't mean to trademark 'Thin different' this time? ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pat500000 Avatar
126 months ago
"Think money."
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bubba Satori Avatar
126 months ago
I'm going to pass on this one.
It's just too easy and kind of sad.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xbjllb Avatar
126 months ago
This was quite true and effective back in the day when they were a personal computer company with a minority market share.

Now that they are a ubiquitous disposable mobile device maker, it seems a bit incongruous and disingenuous. But probably designed to play on the fight with the powers that be over security vs. privacy.

Apple might do well to study the failure of Columbia Records PR campaign to establish itself as an "anti-establishment" "rock" label in the late 60's early 70's. I'm sure Jobs was familiar with the notable failure, even Rolling Stone laughed at them as they took their ad money.

Why it's occasionally beneficial to keep old people around.

:apple:
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
ios 26 1 slide to stop

iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

Friday October 31, 2025 1:40 pm PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important. Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped. The new ...
M5 MacBook Pro

Waiting for New Macs? Apple Just Shared Bad News

Friday October 31, 2025 7:32 am PDT by
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year. Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
ipad mini 7 feature blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday October 29, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock 1

Leaker Outlines Potential New Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Friday October 31, 2025 8:28 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker. The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
apple tv hd

Apple Launched Its Big New Vision for TV 10 Years Ago Today

Thursday October 30, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple launched the Apple TV HD, the Siri Remote, tvOS, and their accompanying App Store a decade ago today, marking a major overhaul of the device. The new vision for the Apple TV was unveiled on September 9, 2015 during Apple's "Hey Siri" event in San Francisco, where CEO Tim Cook introduced the device with the statement, "The future of TV is apps." The announcement represented a major...