Nov 14, 2012 6:15:09 PM

Apple licensed the design of the clock

Several international media reported that Apple and the Swiss federal railways(SFR) arranged a transaction worth of 16.6 million Euros, concerning a license for the use and the distribution of the design of the clocks in Swiss railway stations. Throughout the new iOS6, which is also applied in the new iPhone 5, Apple introduced a clock-app whereas the design supposedly was stolen from the Swiss. After this deal, there is no doubt left that Apples use of the “Kellenziffernblatt”-design is legal.

Relying on informations of the Swiss newspaper “Tagesanzeiger”, both contractors agreed a franchising-fee of 20 Million Swiss Franks. Furthermore the deal was already closed in the midst of October, but now this high amount of the deal was uncovered. At least the Swiss don’t understand, why Apple pays so much at this time. The German magazine “Computerbild” supposed that for Apple any amount would be acceptable in order to avoid the foreseen damage to its image in case of being on trial due to this fact or even to be forced to remove the clock-app.

But even if the Swiss citizens feel that the amount of this deal is highly located; if you take a close look on the accounting figures of the Swiss federal railways, it seems to be only “Peanuts”. First of all, the American electronics-specialist from Cupertino is the worthies company in the world and without doubt 20 million Swiss franks don’t mean anything to their yearly earned profits. And even for the SFR the value means only a 2% stake in their “incidental earnings”-account which sums up to 856 million franks annually.

The actually licensed design was initially drafted for the SFR in 1944 by the Swiss engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker. It is well known for its sweep hand that represents a signalling disc. 26 years ago, the SFR licenced the design once already to the watch-manufacturer from Zurich, Mondaine, of whom you can find more than 250 watches on watchSea24. Mondaine then was allowed to produce and put on the market watches with the recognizably design, but doesn’t benefit from the new deal yet.

(pbj, München, 14.11.2012)

Tagged Watch Business, Business News, External Announcements