Woolworths Limited, the largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand insists its new logo is a stylised ''W'' or a piece of fresh produce. Apple thinks it is an apple, and the California-based technology company wants to stop Australia's largest retailer from using it.

The man who designed the logo - Hans Hulsbosch, said Apple was taking trademark protection ''to the extreme''. ''Based on this logic, they would have to take action against every fruit-seller.''

According to Trademark lawyer Trevor Choy, he comment that it was common for Apple to prevent others from using anything that resembled an apple in a logo or marketing. "They are just covering any eventualities," he said, adding that less than 5 per cent of such actions made it to court