Apple loses iPhone naming rights in Brazil, report says

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 33


    Quick Apple trade mark Galaxy S and Nexus !!!

  • Reply 22 of 33
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member


    Foxconn probably shouldn't have opened up those factories in Brazil. Brazil should forget about a crappy, little local phone maker and recognize who has the clout and world wide name recognition, and which one is in Brazil's benefit to please. Apple should throw it's weight around more, and show these ridiculous countries who's the boss. Maybe they can bribe somebody, if that's how they do business down there.


     


    And I also read that the Turkey iPad deal includes factories being built in that country too? Well, screw that too. Apple should tell all of these uppity countries to take a hike, if any of them demands that factories be built as part of any deals. Let them be stuck in the dark ages, using Brazilian "iPhones", which is in actuality an Android piece of garbage.

  • Reply 23 of 33
    hmmhmm Posts: 3,405member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aaarrrgggh View Post





    But that was before the iPhone actually shipped. I am surprised Cisco didn't have the trademark resolved.


    I don't recall the details of it, just that they eventually settled. I think both were to continue using the name. They have a newsroom piece, but it's not that interesting.


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    Foxconn probably shouldn't have opened up those factories in Brazil. Brazil should forget about a crappy, little local phone maker and recognize who has the clout and world wide name recognition, and which one is in Brazil's benefit to please. Apple should throw it's weight around more, and show these ridiculous countries who's the boss. Maybe they can bribe somebody, if that's how they do business down there.


     


    And I also read that the Turkey iPad deal includes factories being built in that country too? Well, screw that too. Apple should tell all of these uppity countries to take a hike, if any of them demands that factories be built as part of any deals. Let them be stuck in the dark ages, using Brazilian "iPhones", which is in actuality an Android piece of garbage.





    As much as your comments are amusing, why would they automatically own the rights there? I've never heard of the other company, but I don't live in Brazil. Their claim might be completely valid.

  • Reply 24 of 33
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by paxman View Post


    Interim - Actually Steve Jobs called himself iCEO when he returned to Apple. I think that was 1997 and I am pretty sure it predated the release of the first iMac.



     


    Even his "i-CEO" was just a humorous take-off of all the "i-this" and "i-that" words that flying around back then due to the rise of the internet and beginnings of interactive gizmos.


     


    Not too long ago, I mentioned that I had once compiled a list of such i-names.  Well, I found them!  


     


    Here for your viewing pleasure... never posted before... are at least 65 registered i-trademarks or usages that predated "iMac", and some surprisingly familiar ones all around it.   Notice, for example, how many "iPods" there have been.  


     


    Almost all entries come from the USPTO trademark database.  I'm sure there are plenty more examples that I didn't find.  Enjoy!


     


    Red = Apple trademark,  Blue = a name or trademark later used by Apple.


     


    1987 - iNet (online storage)


     


    1992 - iScreen (online computer manuals)


     


    1993 - iTV (interactive TV)


    1993 - ICONNECT (internet professionals)


     


    1994 - iPod chair (internet equipped pod chair - Australia)


    1994 - iBank (remote banking comms)


     


    1995 - iCOMM (internet comms)


    1995 - IMall (internet business)


    1995 - iNET (internet comms)


    1995 - ishop (internet store software)


    1995 - IStore (internet shopping)


    1995 - iRock (internet music radio)


    1995 - I-SITE (internet comms)


    1995 - I-FAX (internet to fax)


    1995 - I-Central (internet consulting)


    1995 - iFind (MCI directory)


    1995 - IVIEW (interactive USAF viewer)


    1995 - ICast (internet broadcasts)


    1995 - iCity (internet hosting)


     


    1996 - iHome (intelligent/interactive home)


    1996 - iMessage (internet mail)


    1996 - iRadio (interactive internet radio)


    1996 - iBox (internet computer for home)


    1996 - IBrowse (internet browser for Amiga)


    1996 - i-Remote (internet TV remote control)


    1996 - iBooks (interactive books)


    1996 - iGames (internet gambling)


    1996 - iMonitor (integrated systems monitor)


    1996 - iKiosk (internet printer)


    1996 - iName (internet addresses)


    1996 - iPrint (internet printing)


    1996 - iPhoto (internet printing)


    1996 - iCall (internet comms)


    1996 - iQuest (QWEST internet)


    1996 - i-Page (paging handsets from internet)


    1996 - iTel (internet media transfer)


    1996 - I800 (internet directory)


    1996 - I.CHALLENGE (internet gaming)


     


    1997 - IMail (Internet Explorer Mail)


    1997 - iWORLD (internet community)


    1997 - iPoint (embedded Internet APIs)


    1997 - iPump (internet reference design)


    1997 - iMeter (internet meter reader)


    1997 - I Antiques & I Collectibles


    1997 - i-MAGIC (interactive learning)


    1997 - iCube (internet kiosk)


    1997 - IPostOffice


    1997 - iRenaissance (internet software)


    1997 - iCommunity (internet BBS)


    1997 - iMatch (internet dating)


    1997 - INote (internet note taker)


    1997 - Iplay (internet games)


    1997 - iPhone (internet phone)


    1997 - IPAD (Internet Protocol ADapter box)


    1997 - IPad (interactive notepad - Cross pens)


     


    1998 - iMagic (interactive ad company)


    1998 - iTourist (interactive ads)


    1998 - iGovernment (info)


    1998 - itravel (internet travel agency)


    1998 - INews (internet news)


    1998 - IView (interent adapter)


    1998 - iAPP (internet job applications)


    1998 - iAnnounce (internet announcements)


    1998 - iInvite (internet invitations)


    1998 - iNote (internet sticky notes)


    1998 - iMac by Apple


    1998 - imouse (interactive mouse)


     


    1999 - idesk (internet management)


    1999 - iform (internet data)


    1999 - iTerm (internet web terminal)


    1999 - i-Opener (internet web computer)


    1999 - IPOD (internet protocol converter)


    1999 - iNews24 (internet News site)


    1999 - iCatalog (internet catalog)


    1999 - iTours (internet tour booking)


    1999 - iBook by Apple


    1999 - iFrame (internet photo network)


     


    2000 - ICard (internet bank card services)


    2000 - iDirect (internet direct satellite link)


    2000 - iVacation (internet home rentals)


    2000 - iRad (internet radio)


    2000 - iPAQ (internet computer)


    2000 - iPod (internet kiosk - NJ company)


     


    2001 - iTunes by Apple


    2001 - iPod by Apple


     


    AND FINALLY... my favorite preApple i-Trademark of them all...


    A product that used ONLY the lowercase letter "i"...


     



     


    Now you can see why Apple's ad agency wanted "iMac".  The internet was getting popular in the 1990s and so was "i-anything".

  • Reply 25 of 33
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hmm View Post


    As much as your comments are amusing, why would they automatically own the rights there? I've never heard of the other company, but I don't live in Brazil. Their claim might be completely valid.



     


    I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not going to pretend to play one on the internet, but I believe that depending upon the country or jurisdiction, first to file does not always grant ownership over a name. Market dominance and name recognition could be a valid reason for Apple to have ownership.

  • Reply 26 of 33
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


     


    I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not going to pretend to play one on the internet, but I believe that depending upon the country or jurisdiction, first to file does not always grant ownership over a name. Market dominance and name recognition could be a valid reason for Apple to have ownership.



     


    In most countries, the first to file owns the name.  It can take years to get the registration canceled.  Thus trademark squatters hope major companies simply and quickly cough up the cash instead.


     


    Even in the US, trademark squatters are becoming a problem.  Trademarks are very easy to file.  Then there's a short 30 day period after it's published in a weekly notice that anyone can challenge it.  


     


    If the well known company doesn't notice within that time, they might have to wait for years (if the applicant keeps filing extensions) until the trademark is finally issued before they can file opposition again.  Usually after all that time, the applicant will instead lose the trademark from lack of use.  Either way, it can be a huge expensive delay for the well known company.

  • Reply 27 of 33
    galbigalbi Posts: 968member


    Hahahahah


     


    Brazil is one of the biggest growth markets in the world part of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).


     


    Yet, Apple cant get its trademark name "iPhone" promoted.


     


    What is worse is that the name was already taken by another smartphone powered by... wait for it.....Android.


     


    How ironic. :D

  • Reply 28 of 33
    I absolutely love everyone here who basically says "since the justice decision was against Apple, Appple should renegociate their contrats".

    From what I read, a company filed for the name years before Apple did, and hence owns the name. Makes perfect sense to leverage this, otherwise how would you justify that Apple has a right to keep its trademark "iMac" if I suddenly decide to make iMacs in the US?

    Moreover, even if their base was not justified for a reason we're not told here... a world where a company can just have justice say it's right regardless, or they'll "renegociate contracts" is a very, very dangerous world. Hello, Samsung, hello Microsoft, hello Boeing, hello dear banks, hello AT&T (I hear you intend to have a justice decision that prevents anyone who ever had a contract with you to ever move to another carrier?)... See what I mean?

    So yeah, digitalclips, rob53 and others... think harder.
    You might not even be allowed to carry an iPhone in such a world, due to the horrible damage to the item's reputation you carrying it would cause.
  • Reply 29 of 33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


     


    I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not going to pretend to play one on the internet, but I believe that depending upon the country or jurisdiction, first to file does not always grant ownership over a name. Market dominance and name recognition could be a valid reason for Apple to have ownership.



    However, based on the court decision, you don't need to play lawyer. In Brasil ("depending on the country" as you said), Apple doesn't have ownership until they sign a check.


    That's how things work, that's how Apple is protected from poachers, ad in this small case, that's how Apple has to write a check. Unfortunate for Apple shareholders, fortunate for the guys who had the intelligence to file early.


     


    On top of it "market dominance and name recognition" seem to heavily favor big companies with huge pockets over small innovative companies. 

  • Reply 30 of 33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KDarling View Post


     


    In most countries, the first to file owns the name.  It can take years to get the registration canceled.  Thus trademark squatters hope major companies simply and quickly cough up the cash instead.


     


    Even in the US, trademark squatters are becoming a problem.  Trademarks are very easy to file.  Then there's a short 30 day period after it's published in a weekly notice that anyone can challenge it.  


     


    If the well known company doesn't notice within that time, they might have to wait for years (if the applicant keeps filing extensions) until the trademark is finally issued before they can file opposition again.  Usually after all that time, the applicant will instead lose the trademark from lack of use.  Either way, it can be a huge expensive delay for the well known company.



    In my opinion, it's the same issue as with domain names. Try to get a two-word (especially english) domain name... 

  • Reply 31 of 33
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,213member


    FWIW I posted news about this back in December.


    http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/155154/google-to-debut-motorola-built-x-phone-next-year-takes-aim-at-apple-and-samsung/40#post_2250528


     


    There's a little more about the story as well as the Brazilian iPhone description at the link I provided back then:


    http://phys.org/news/2012-12-brazil-company-cellphones-iphone-brand.html

  • Reply 32 of 33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aaarrrgggh View Post



    Story is a little short on information; what did Gradient produce as an iphone prior to Apple's trademark request in 2006 up until the release of an android handset in 2011?


    Gradiente used to build TV sets, sound systems and, for a short time, licensed Nintendo consoles. Usually, they licensed technology from other companies (usually JVC) and thus they weren't that bad. They went through bad times in 2007 and stop producing anything. Since them they got some new investors and only now they are returning to ship products to the market.


     


    Although they got the rights to use the iPhone brand by INPI (a National Agency in charge, among other things, to issue industrial trademarks), Apple can contest this in the court as Gradiente failed to ship this product for more than 10 years. However, this subject is more likely to be solved outside courts as Apple will loose more not selling phones and Gradiente seems to be willing to take any cash while trying to reinvent itself.

  • Reply 33 of 33
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member


    One note about US trademarks used in commerce...


     


    Within about three years after application (it's supposed to only be six months -- but you can legally file lots of extensions), you have to actually use your trademark on a product or service, otherwise you lose the pending registration.


     


    Anyone know the rules in Brazil?

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