Apple Versus Prepear

Gary NG, reporting for iPhone in Canada:

According to the founders [of Prepear], Apple “has opposed the trademark application for our small business, Prepear, demanding that we change our obviously pear shaped logo, used to represent our brand in the recipe management and meal planning business.” […]

Prepear says they are a small company with only five staff and legal costs have already cost them “many thousands of dollars” plus laying off one team member, in their legal fight against the iPhone maker.

From Apple’s notice of opposition to Prepear:

The Consumers encountering Applicant’s Mark are likely to associate the mark with Apple. Applicant’s Mark consists of a minimalistic fruit design with a right-angled leaf, which readily calls to mind Apple’s famous Apple Logo and creates a similar commercial impression

I’m usually inclined to defend Apple but this is a real stretch. Are all other potential minimalistic fruit designs completely off the table now? Would a left-angled leaf have made it better? It just seems like Apple is throwing their weight around here for no real benefit and to the detriment of real people. It’s disappointing.