Apple lose iPhone trademark in Brazil, regulators have ruled.
The ruling comes after a local company called Gradiente Electronics registered the name in 2000 – six years before the US giant. The ruling means that although Apple can continue to sell iPhone branded handsets in the country, Gradiente are able to sue for exclusivity of the name. Hm, do you reckon they’d actually take on the mighty Apple?
The Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has revealed that it only applies to handsets; Apple continues to own the exclusive rights to use the iPhone name on clothing and in publications, etc.
INPI’s spokesman Marcelo Chimento said: "I can confirm that INPI published today its decisions about eight trademark applications related to iPhone, from Apple: four applications were rejected and another four were approved. Some were rejected because a Brazilian company, Gradiente, made an application for a Gradiente iPhone in 2000 and it was approved in 2008. As Apple started its applications for iPhone in 2006, they were denied because Gradiente had a very similar register for cell phones applied some years before the American company." What a bum.
"The trademarks approved today for Apple were related to other classes, such as education, software development and advertising. Since they are in other classes - different from communications and telephones - they could be approved."
Apple argues that it should have been granted the rights because Gradiente had gone over the five year limit not releasing the phone until December 2012. It currently sells the Android iPhone Neo One for £196. Now that is one desirable mobile ;)
Bloomberg previously reported that the chairman of Gradiente had said: "We're open to a dialogue for anything, anytime... we're not radicals." Good job. They've clearly lost out on the whole iPhone thing. Let it go; samba off back to carnival and whip yourself up a caipirinha, for heaven's sake.
The Apple Shop
The mighty Gradiente (ahem) aren't the only ones to cross Apple's path this week; they've been joined by The Apple Shop – a cider and juice shop in Wroxham Barns – which has been forced to change its name. Owner Geoff Fisher has renamed the shop The Norfolk Cider Shop since becoming inundated with calls from frustrated iPhone and iPad customers phoning up with issues.
Mr Fisher said: "I've had complaints about broken iPods and dropped iPads and Apple Macs. It can be very funny, but some people are very rude and they slam the phone down My telephone number has a Norwich prefix and so people unawares ring up the Apple Shop. All I can say to them is, 'I'm very sorry, I can’t help you, but please do come along and get some proper Norfolk cider to get over your sorrows'." Aharhar.
Apple have not forced the shop to change its name; it was a decision taken by Geoff Fisher alone who decided that the 24 calls a week he was receiving since the Apple iStore opened in Norwich in 2009 was making the name undesirable.
He said: "My most amusing caller was an elderly gentleman who rang up and the first thing he said was, 'I've been very silly'.
"'I said, what's the problem? He said, 'I'm 87, and I've gone and bought an Apple Mac and I don't know how to use it'.
"I said, 'Well, I'm very sorry, you have been very silly, perhaps you should give it to your grandchildren'."
Hm, silly indeed. However, on a more serious note don't forget to sell your old mobile or gadget here with us at OnRecycle. It's good for the enivronment and it can earn you some easy money, so, why not? It could even help fund your ticket for the 2014 Brazil World Cup; or a cider keg or two. Whatever floats your boat! And if you're happy with our service then don't forget to 'like' us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
