Apple Loses iPhone Trademark in Brazil
Gradiente Eletronica wins exclusive rights to name in South America's largest market.
As expected, Apple has officially lost the iPhone trademark in Brazil, with the company already lodging an appeal.
The Brazilian Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) ruled against Apple in a lawsuit filed by Brazilian company Gradiente Eletronica. The latter released an Android-powered smartphone called the "iPHONE" in January.
Gradiente registered the name in 2000, seven years before Apple launched its flagship device. Apple has, however, retained the rights to use the name to sell merchandise such as clothing, software, and in advertising. (The ruling is limited solely to handsets.)
Apple has already filed an appeal to see the decision overruled. It argued that Gradiente hasn’t used the iPhone trademark between 2008 and early this year and has thus asked Brazilian regulators to remove the registration.
Apple will still be able to continue to sell its smartphone in Brazil for now, although it's unclear for how long. Gradiente has stated that it had secured the legal rights to the name until 2018.
LOL!
What retard bullshit is this? Hasnt use doesnt mean you can steal the name. lol
What retard bullshit is this? Hasnt use doesnt mean you can steal the name. lol
I'm sitting here, reading this article and thinking
"Whose side am I supposed to be cheering for?"
This has nothing to do with holding back technology and/or innovation.
They are not claiming that Apple should not make and sell their phones in Brazil. They are claiming rights to the name iPhone! That is waaaaaay more reasonable than when Apple tries to prevent anyone from using an Apple logo (or square icons with rounded corners!).. since apples have always been around since before Adam and Eve, but iPhone is not a even a word in any language that I know. All Apple had to do is rename their phone for the Brazilian market (cars have different names in different markets, and so do many Android phones!). It shouldn't hurt their sales that much (not say it won't, just that it shouldn't).. not any more than their absurd claims that their customers can't tell a Samsung apart from an iPhone..
"But they never expected.. the Brazilians..."
*drumming*
LOL!
i heard that antennagate and imisdirection are not taken. trademark them quick, apple.
+1 for Brazil.
Don't you mean Tim? Jobs' dead.
They lost it during Tim, not Steve. Thus Steve has nothing to be blamed for in this particular case, only Tim.
Don't you mean "to the natural flow of all things in the Universe"?
You may want to see a physician about that. I'm just say'n.