Apple in Danger of Losing iPhone Trademark in Brazil, Says Report
By Brandon Russell | +
Apple is in danger of losing the iPhone name in Brazil, Reuters reported on Tuesday citing unnamed sources. According to the report, a company named Gradiente filed for the iPhone name in the country long before Apple hit the scene, though the company didn’t have an actual product until last December—and that was running Android.
This isn’t the first time Apple has tussled over naming rights. Back in 2007, shortly before the company’s first iPhone launched, Apple gained the rights away from U.S. Cisco Systems; Cisco subsequently sued the Cupertino company, and the two settled in February 2007.
This fight is a little like that, with Brazil-based Gradiente acquiring the rights up through 2018. Apple, as expected, declined to comment on the matter. An official ruling is set to take place on Feb. 13, in which Apple could then challenge if the company doesn’t agree with the judge. Gradiente said it’s “open to a dialogue” to settle, though terms would obviously need to be worked out.
