Apple introduced a free mobile video editing app called 'Clips' on the App Store on April 6, 2017. It's only available on 64-bit devices running iOS 10.3 or later. Apple describes it as an app for "making and sharing fun videos with text, effects, graphics, and more." In an update coming in November exclusively for iPhone X users Apple notes that "Selfie Scenes on iPhone X make Clips even more fun, using the TrueDepth camera to place you in beautifully animated landscapes, abstract art, and even onboard the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Each scene is a full 360-degree experience, so any way you move iPhone X, the scene surrounds you on all sides." Today Apple's European trademark filing surfaced from London for the figurative version of the 'Clips' trademark.

For interest sake it should be noted that Google introduced a new mini camera during their October 4th hardware event called 'Clips' that uses software by the same name. Google notes on their Clips camera web page that "Your clips sync wirelessly and in seconds from the camera to the Google Clips app for Android or iOS."

Technically the two trademarks could legally clash at some point in time as both are used for both software and camera hardware. There could be a legal conflict here at some point in time unless both companies have a behind the scenes agreement of sorts which would seem highly unlikely.

Is Google trying to get into Apple's face by purposely trying to blur the lines with the same branding for similar products? Only time will tell. 

Figurative Trademark Art for 'Clips'

Apple's E.U Figurative Trademark Application In-Part for 'Clips'

Apple filed their trademark under International Class 09 covered by the following verbiage: "Computer software for use in creating, editing, importing, exporting, and sharing video and multimedia content, adding animation, graphics, music, sound effects, and special effects to video and multimedia content, and posting video and multimedia content to websites and social media platforms."

Apple also filed for the trademark in China under number 304274514 using the same verbiage for Class 9.

Apple's priority date for this trademark filing is noted as being 21/04/2017. It was filed in Canada. A search for a single standalone word "clips" indicates that Apple is the only one with a live filing on record at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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