Firm Launches 'IPHONE' Brand of Android Phones, Touts Trademark Ownership in Brazil

MacRumors · Dec 18, 2012, 01:07 PM

Brazilian electronics maker IGB Electronica SA has announced a new line of Android phones under the IPHONE brand, a trademark that was originally applied for in Brazil in 2000.

From Reuters:

Quote:

The first model will be called "Neo One," IGB said in a securities filing. The company was formed this year after the restructuring of Gradiente Eletronica SA, which had applied for exclusive rights in Brazil to register its products under the name IPHONE in 2000.

Apple will either file a lawsuit, or perhaps more likely, begin negotiations for a settlement deal.

Apple was involved in a similar trademark issue in China, with Proview owning the "iPad" trademark. Apple ended up paying that company $60 million to gain control of the 'iPad' trademark.

Brazil is an important country for Apple. The company has begun hiring for new Apple Stores in the country, which would be its first locations in South America and Apple and Foxconn have begun iPad and iPhone production there.

Finally, Apple CEO Tim Cook has said in the past that Brazil is the company's next big target after China.

Article Link: Firm Launches 'IPHONE' Brand of Android Phones, Touts Trademark Ownership in Brazil

ArtOfWarfare · Dec 18, 2012, 01:08 PM

I wonder how much they're hoping to extract from Apple. I wonder how much Apple is going to be willing to part with to secure the iPhone trademark in Brazil.

Unggoy Murderer · Dec 18, 2012, 01:09 PM

Android sure does look dull...

KdParker · Dec 18, 2012, 01:09 PM

Now that will be confusing.

I wonder how much Apple will have have to pay to get the rights?

notjustjay · Dec 18, 2012, 01:13 PM

So, this is just a blatant money grab, right?

MikhailT · Dec 18, 2012, 01:14 PM

It will be an interesting to see what happens.

Brazilian gov't fought hard to get manufacturing jobs and keeping Apple happy is a part of that. So, Apple does have leverage to get that company to transfer the rights.

The fact that they didn't use the trademark until now will only weaken their defense against this.

roxxette · Dec 18, 2012, 01:14 PM

So this is the same story like the ipad china ?

Apple Key · Dec 18, 2012, 01:15 PM

That phone is ugly and doesn't deserve the iPhone name (whether it is in all caps or not).

lucas123 · Dec 18, 2012, 01:15 PM

meh... Vaporware.

Money grab attempt. Nothing more.

Jessica Lares · Dec 18, 2012, 01:16 PM

It looks like an iPod Touch/iPhone 2G.

And yeah, pure greed right there. Disgusting.

GoCubsGo · Dec 18, 2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unggoy Murderer

Android sure does look dull...

You've likely never tried it.

A money grab? If they had the name since 2000 how can it really be a money grab?

decimortis · Dec 18, 2012, 01:19 PM

Why not just let them sell the phone? What happens next should certainly remedy the situation.

D.

iBug2 · Dec 18, 2012, 01:20 PM

lmao, this was a good one. : )

xkmxkmxlmx · Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM

Just let them have the name and call it the Apple phone, and watch it still get destroyed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessica.

You've likely never tried it.

A money grab? If they had the name since 2000 how can it really be a money grab?

Yeah, and 13 years later they decide to put out a phone

90miles · Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM

Funny thing is this thing will probably sell more units than the iPhone since you have to pay 1200 dollars to get an out-of-contract iPhone.

GoldenJoe · Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM

Android manufacturers copying Apple? Unheard of.

Drag'nGT · Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unggoy Murderer

Android sure does look dull...

Ooo! Ooo!
It's got widgets!

nuckinfutz · Dec 18, 2012, 01:22 PM

Apple

Just contact a corrupt Brazilian Government official and have this deal with the old school way.

GoCubsGo · Dec 18, 2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xkmxkmxlmx

Just let them have the name and call it the Apple phone, and watch it still get destroyed.

Yeah, and 13 years later they decide to put out a phone

Whatever. Fanboys will see it only as a money grab. I see it as opportunistic.

90miles · Dec 18, 2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessica.

Whatever. Fanboys will see it only as a money grab. I see it as opportunistic.

The phone only came-out now because of a giant reorganization that took place on the company to avoid bankruptcy, so not a money grab, they were once a big brand in Brazil that could compete with Sony and other TV brands.

penguintheft · Dec 18, 2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

A money grab? If they had the name since 2000 how can it really be a money grab?

Because by using the name now they are getting Apple's attention and banking on one of two things:
Either Apple will pay them off, or;
Buyers will be confused and get this iPhone instead of the one they intended.

GoCubsGo · Dec 18, 2012, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90miles

The phone only came-out now because of a giant reorganization that took place on the company to avoid bankruptcy, so not a money grab, they were once a big brand in Brazil that could compete with Sony and other TV brands.

Try to tell these guys that.

domesposito · Dec 18, 2012, 01:27 PM

I wonder if there's something wrong/illegal with them exploiting Android in this situation. I mean at least with the iPad trademark in China the product was its own. This time a company is exploiting Android along with a phone just to use the name.

Do you really think they've been developing an "IPHONE" since 2000 ... probably not. Sure they are rightful owners of the name, but they just got lucky by securing a trademark and hitting a jackpot 12 years later. Now they want to get everyone worked up. I just wonder if Google will have something to say here.

ALCRON · Dec 18, 2012, 01:27 PM

Their logo looked more like an @ symbol at first.

90miles · Dec 18, 2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguintheft

Because by using the name now they are getting Apple's attention and banking on one of two things:
Either Apple will pay them off, or;
Buyers will be confused and get this iPhone instead of the one they intended.

Buyers will get confused? People tend to look at which device they are buying before they put their money on it.

Dec 18, 2012, 01:09 PM	#3
Unggoy Murderer macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Livingston, Scotland	Android sure does look dull... __________________ 27" iMac, i7 3.4GHz, 16GB RAM 13" MBP 2.66 GHz, 8GB RAM 3rd Gen iPad 64 GB Wifi+4G, iOS 5.1 iPhone 5 32 GB, iOS 6.0 Mac Mini 2.00 GHz, 2GB RAM
	34

Dec 18, 2012, 01:09 PM	#4
KdParker macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2010	Now that will be confusing. I wonder how much Apple will have have to pay to get the rights? __________________ 16g iPhone5 Black ; 16g iPhone5 White; 15" retina - MBP 2.6 GHZ 16 RAM; iPad4 retina
	5

Dec 18, 2012, 01:13 PM	#5
notjustjay macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canada, eh?	So, this is just a blatant money grab, right? __________________ .
	40

Dec 18, 2012, 01:15 PM	#8
Apple Key macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012	That phone is ugly and doesn't deserve the iPhone name (whether it is in all caps or not). __________________ You know what they say... once you go Mac you ain't never gonna go back.
	9

Dec 18, 2012, 01:16 PM	#10
Jessica Lares macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA	It looks like an iPod Touch/iPhone 2G. And yeah, pure greed right there. Disgusting. __________________  Have You Hugged Your Mac Today? Daily Expressions \| Power Mac G5 \| Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro \| iPod Nano (7G) \| iPod Shuffle (2012) \| iPad Mini
	8

Dec 18, 2012, 01:08 PM	#2
ArtOfWarfare macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2007	I wonder how much they're hoping to extract from Apple. I wonder how much Apple is going to be willing to part with to secure the iPhone trademark in Brazil.
	4

Dec 18, 2012, 01:14 PM	#6
MikhailT macrumors 68030 Join Date: Nov 2007	It will be an interesting to see what happens. Brazilian gov't fought hard to get manufacturing jobs and keeping Apple happy is a part of that. So, Apple does have leverage to get that company to transfer the rights. The fact that they didn't use the trademark until now will only weaken their defense against this.
	8

Dec 18, 2012, 01:14 PM	#7
roxxette Banned Join Date: Aug 2011	So this is the same story like the ipad china ?
	4

Dec 18, 2012, 01:15 PM	#9
lucas123 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2010	meh... Vaporware. Money grab attempt. Nothing more.
	6

Dec 18, 2012, 01:19 PM	#12
decimortis macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Here	Why not just let them sell the phone? What happens next should certainly remedy the situation. D. __________________ MacBook Air: 1.6GHz/4GB RAM/128GB/Mac OS X 10.8.2 iPhone 4S: Black 64GB iPad 4: Black 16GB WiFi
	12

Dec 18, 2012, 01:20 PM	#13
iBug2 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2005	lmao, this was a good one. : ) __________________ Mac Pro Octo 3.2, 8GB Ram, Radeon 5870, ACD 30" rMBP 2.7 15" 16GB Ram, iPhone 4S, iPad 3
	2

Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM	#15
90miles macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2012	Funny thing is this thing will probably sell more units than the iPhone since you have to pay 1200 dollars to get an out-of-contract iPhone. __________________ Base 15" rMBP iPad 2 32GB+3G iPhone 5 16GB iPod Classic 80GB (5th gen)
	6

Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM	#16
GoldenJoe macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2011	Android manufacturers copying Apple? Unheard of.
	27

Dec 18, 2012, 01:22 PM	#18
nuckinfutz macrumors 603 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Middle Earth	Apple Just contact a corrupt Brazilian Government official and have this deal with the old school way.
	4

Dec 18, 2012, 01:27 PM	#23
domesposito macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2012	I wonder if there's something wrong/illegal with them exploiting Android in this situation. I mean at least with the iPad trademark in China the product was its own. This time a company is exploiting Android along with a phone just to use the name. Do you really think they've been developing an "IPHONE" since 2000 ... probably not. Sure they are rightful owners of the name, but they just got lucky by securing a trademark and hitting a jackpot 12 years later. Now they want to get everyone worked up. I just wonder if Google will have something to say here.
	0

Dec 18, 2012, 01:27 PM	#24
ALCRON macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Alestia	Their logo looked more like an @ symbol at first.
	0

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