Mumbai Apple store zone a no-go area for 22 ‘competing brands’

Apple has stipulated that about two dozen technology, electronics and ecommerce brands shouldn’t have any kind of presence near its soon-to-be-inaugurated store at Reliance Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai.

According to the lease agreement accessed by data analytic firm CRE Matrix, the company has specified 22 brands including Amazon, Facebook, Google, LG, Microsoft, Sony and Twitter that should be kept out of its “exclusive zone”. This will include stores, hoardings and advertisements. This will be Apple’s first owned store in India. “The licensor will not give on license, sub-license, lease, sub-lease or any other arrangement nor allot any of the brands listed as ‘Competing Brands’ to occupy any space for setting up of retail stores for retailing, advertising, selling, offering, displaying and merchandising their products and services within the area of the shopping centre depicted on exclusivity zone,” as per the agreement.