The "Steve Jobs" trademark has been registered for the production of clothing.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) recently upheld its earlier decision to grant registration of the STEVE JOBS trademark to two brothers from Naples, Vincenzo and Giacomo Barbato.

The trademark registration covered not only the word "STEVE JOBS," but also a stylized design and a very distinctive letter "J," which likely reminds consumers of another company's logo.

In 2012, the two Neapolitan brothers noticed that Apple had failed to register its founder’s name as a trademark; consequently, they filed a trademark application as shown above with the EUIPO (registration number 011041861) in International Classes 9, 18, 25, 38, and 42.

Apple Inc. promptly filed an opposition to the registration application with the EUIPO, arguing that the letter "J" was a copy of Apple Inc.'s "Apple" trademark, featuring a very similar design and a bite mark, like this:

After years of debate, the EUIPO ruled in favor of the Barbato brothers, arguing that the letter J is not edible, and therefore there is no connection between the tech company’s bitten apple and the “bitten” letter J created by the Italian brothers.

Consequently, the trademark was registered, and the sale of clothing bearing the STEVE JOBS brand began.

The trademark application for STEVE JOBS was also filed in the U.S. with the USPTO (serial number 79141888), but the office rejected the application filed by the two Neapolitan brothers.