> Inkwell is listed on Apple’s own trademark page.
I had an app rejected, because it had the word "Finder" in its title ("Virtual Meeting Finder"). I had to change the name of the app, and it wasn't too big a deal, because the original name was fairly unimaginative (as it was supposed to be).
But it does sound like the whole app name is in conflict with a registered Apple trademark. It's unlikely to ever be approved.
With a previously registered trademark -- the article says it has been "listed as 'dead”' by the US Patent & Trademark Office" and unused for decades.
Also trademarks have context. These reviews appear to completely ignore the nuance of trademark law.
I don't think it matters. It's their store, and they can do it. I suspect that if Inkwell was trademarked (which it sounds like it's not), they could bully through the reviewers. Apple certainly didn't have any legal standing to deny my app name, and I likely could have bullied them into approving it, but it wasn't worth the agita.
I do have a registered trademark (not for an app name, though). It's a really painful process. I can see why folks wouldn't want to go through that for every app name. I don't bother, with most of mine, but I do search for other registered marks.