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Apple lost trademark fight over iPhone name in China to a firm selling handbags

By Cookie Monster - on 5 May 2016, 1:00am

Apple lost trademark fight over iPhone name in China to a firm selling handbags

 Image source: Xintong Tiandi

Apple lost the right to the exclusive name of the iPhone trademark in China after the Beijing Municipal High People's Court ruled in favor of a local firm. 

According to the official Legal Daily newspaper, Beijing firm Xintong Tiandi can continue to use the name "IPHONE" on its handbags and other leather goods even though Apple has the right to the trademark for electronic goods.The dispute over the iPhone trademark has a long history which started in 2002.

9to5Mac reports that Apple first applied for the trademark in the electronic goods category in 2002, but it was not granted at that time. XinTong Tiandi applied for the trademark in leather goods in 2007 and was granted three years later.

Apple appealed its case in 2012, but its appeal was denied because the iPhone was not a popular brand in China in 2007 when XinTong Tiandi applied for the trademark. The iPhone maker then appealed its case to the high court without much success as the iPhones were not sold in the Chinese market until 2009. 

The Chinese market proves to be a tough challenge for Apple. iPhone sales in the country dropped by 26% in the previous quarter, and its iBooks and iTunes services were shut down due to regulations on foreign ownership of online publishing services. 

Source: Legal Daily via BBC, 9to5Mac

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