Apple Asks Court to Dismiss Emoji Skin Tone Copyright Claims

Apple Inc.'s racially diverse emoji do not infringe Cub Club Investment LLC’s copyrights in similar icons because skin tone is not copyrightable, the tech giant said in urging a federal court in Texas to dismiss the claim.

Cub Club said in a complaint filed in September in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas that Apple copied its “iDiversicons” emoji and their five skin tones after discussing a potential partnership. It accused Apple of infringing its copyrights and trade dress.

Apple accused Cub Club of trying to “assert an exclusive right over the general concept and practice ...