Firm Owning 'IPHONE' Trademark in Brazil Open to Selling Mark to Apple

[iMacz]

Originally Posted by Bubba Satori

Apple should just buy Brazil.

Haha... Maybe Apple can pay back some of your debts to China before buying Brazil!!!

[SlCKB0Y]

Originally Posted by Peace

It's a trademark not a patent.

they don't "have" to make a phone.

It certainly helps though... at lot. If they aren't making phones Apple could reasonably argue that their use of "iPhone" is unlikely to cause confusion between the products of the two companies.

[1Alec1]

Criminals.

[Peace]

Originally Posted by SlCKB0Y

It certainly helps though... at lot. If they aren't making phones Apple could reasonably argue that their use of "iPhone" is unlikely to cause confusion between the products of the two companies.

It does help but they did make a phone.

And they have the prior trademark. I don't see this getting past a few mid-level lawyers.

[1Alec1]

Originally Posted by Dr McKay

Mess? They owned this trademark years before iPhone existed. How are they messing with Apple?

They were granted the trademark in 2008, applied for it in 2000. Not sure which year counts.

[Peace]

Originally Posted by 1Alec1

They were granted the trademark in 2008, applied for it in 2000. Not sure which year counts.

If they applied for it 7 years before Apple came out with it I'd say they are using their rights.

[AnorexicPig]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

I don't think paying 100 top lawyers is gonna be cheaper than paying Gradiente for a license anyway.

By the way, those able to read in Portuguese should check the following link:

http://www.ie.ufrj.br/desenvolviment...ecnologica.pdf

It's a paper analyzing the Unitron case, when a well-known Brazilian company produced a Mac clone (the "Mac 512") through perfectly-legal reverse engineering means (i.e., no Apple patent in Brazil).

However, strong pressure from the US government + corporate lobbying from competing companies in Brazil made the military government backtrack from its original decision to allow the company to produce such clones - it's a fascinating story.

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What "stuff"? A few iPhones by Foxconn?

Brazil is the 5th (or 6th, depending on who you ask) largest economy in the world; the US is not even its largest trading partner anymore.

On the other hand, Brazilian tourists are the ones spending the most money of all nationalities in places like NY.

So it's more like this nowadays, given the dire state of the US economy: Brazil asks, the US concedes - not the other way round.

Well dude,I understand you are a Brazilian and adrenaline runs high in your blood,but I don't know what you are talking here of the economy,if you will do a little research,it's the US economy which is doing far better than the Brazilian economy in the last year (2012),Brazil's GDP growth has come down crashing (1%)-for more reference check yourself -- http://www.economist.com/news/americ...-wrong-numbers

[86nji]

Originally Posted by AnorexicPig

Well dude,I understand you are a Brazilian and adrenaline runs high in your blood

hahahahahaha arrrriba!

Originally Posted by iMacz

Haha... Maybe Apple can pay back some of your debts to China before buying Brazil!!!

haha, every great western power owes the world a great debt that far transcends money and tangible objects.

[alexgowers]

just call it the apple phone.

No need for any lawsuits or anything. apple is know for the iphone and everyone will call it that anyway.

This company won't survive in the long term anyway.

[86nji]

and what I perceive it to be is that the US is a super power right? But there are other powers, hatred is building for the US believe that, the ridiculous celebrities that are the face of the US, presidents with 5 different names, conspiracies, extensive acting couriers? both on and off the stage, no emission regulation and my god, george bush jr.

personally I have a lot of family in the US and adore the landscape and the individual states but the US has been run by corporations for a long time, could it survive if it was once again a real 'country' short answer, no.

[zap2]

Originally Posted by oliversl

They're open to lawsuits and bankruptcy, good luck with that

Yup...and they won their lawsuit in Brazil.

Apple will most likely end up paying, not the end of the world, but to be fair, these guys owned it first.

[Solomani]

Brazil is not a good market for tech anyways. Too much Socialist regulations and hurdles, and an anti-business climate.

Apple should not give in to that extortion. Apple should just leave Brazil completely, let them keep their Brazilian "IPHONE" thing. If Apple were to pay good money for trademarks, they should save the money for regional markets that are actually worth it. Not Brazil.

[Bubba Satori]

Originally Posted by Solomani

Brazil is not a good market for tech anyways. Too much Socialist regulations and hurdles, and an anti-business climate.

Apple should not give in to that extortion. Apple should just leave Brazil completely, let them keep their Brazilian "IPHONE" thing. If Apple were to pay good money for trademarks, they should save the money for regional markets that are actually worth it. Not Brazil.

Brazil's economy is growing three times as fast as the US economy.
Ducati just built a factory there to sell to their exploding middle class.
They will lead South America in the next century.
Yeah, Apple should follow your uninformed advice.

[macs4nw]

Originally Posted by Peace

IGB Electronica SA has Apple by the proverbial sack and they know it. Apple's gonna pay a lot for this.

This is reminiscent of that 'iFone' name, that was registered in Mexico in 2003, where APPLE unsuccessfully sought title to the iPhone name in 2009.

Companies all over the globe are realizing the value of that little 'i' to APPLE. Whether they use it or not, the Brazilians had it first, so if APPLE wants it, they are indeed gonna have to play by the rules of IGB Electronica.
$$$$$

[dreadnort]

Originally Posted by Risco

Yes mess, not in the context of current ownership but more that Apple always get's what it wants.

And by this comment Apple is just the street thug, gimme what i want or i'll beat it out of you.

Apple will have to pay what the company wants they cant and should not be allowed to just take it.

If Apple have been selling iphones in brazil for many years what name has it gone by? (anyone know) or have they already been infringing on the iphone trade mark?

[Oletros]

Originally Posted by Peace

More like

2. Apple threatens lawsuits that could cost millions. Millions IGB doesn't have.

What lawsuits are you talking about?

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Originally Posted by Solomani

Brazil is not a good market for tech anyways. Too much Socialist regulations and hurdles, and an anti-business climate.

Apple should not give in to that extortion. Apple should just leave Brazil completely, let them keep their Brazilian "IPHONE" thing. If Apple were to pay good money for trademarks, they should save the money for regional markets that are actually worth it. Not Brazil.

Apple should leave Brazil, Apple should leave UK, Apple should leave Italy.

Do you people really read the things you write or it is an automated bot the one writing them when Apple loses any lawsuit areound the world?

[AppleScruff1]

Originally Posted by Solomani

Brazil is not a good market for tech anyways. Too much Socialist regulations and hurdles, and an anti-business climate.

Apple should not give in to that extortion. Apple should just leave Brazil completely, let them keep their Brazilian "IPHONE" thing. If Apple were to pay good money for trademarks, they should save the money for regional markets that are actually worth it. Not Brazil.

Except Brazil has the highest cell phone ownership per-capita than any other country.

[alexmarchuk]

Everyone knows very well, Apple especially, that they will pay. It's like variable costs of production, oil prices are always volatile and you either pay and play or you don't and suffer. It's another small incurred expense of doing business. Will it benefit IGB Electronica SA? Sure, but in the end Apple will profit from their business in Brazil many times that.

[nick_elt]

Originally Posted by Peace

More like

1. IGB sets the price
2. Apple threatens lawsuits that could cost millions. Millions IGB doesn't have.
3. Apple barks
4. Apple pays less than expected by IGB
5. IGB is still happy with the millions they got.

Please Explain what lawsuit Apple could threaten with.

[nick_elt]

Originally Posted by alexgowers

just call it the apple phone.

No need for any lawsuits or anything. apple is know for the iphone and everyone will call it that anyway.

This company won't survive in the long term anyway.

Whats wrong with all you people? ?? Its not as tho apple is a struggling company. The can pay millions to execs bonuses they can afford a few mill

[dreadnort]

Originally Posted by Oletros

What lawsuits are you talking about?

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Apple should leave Brazil, Apple should leave UK, Apple should leave Italy.

Do you people really read the things you write or it is an automated bot the one writing them when Apple loses any lawsuit areound the world?

i second this fandriod bots apple do not have a leg to stand on regarding the trademark in brazil, yep Apple could leave Brazil and the UK and europe and the middle east and asia and russia and that by fanboy reasoning is a good plan

[KnightWRX]

Originally Posted by nick_elt

Please Explain what lawsuit Apple could threaten with.

Forget it, for some posters, Apple must win at all costs... Shows how much credibility any of those guys really have (ie, none.). It's sad to see humans having to lower themselves to the rank of corporate puppet, even when they aren't on the payroll.

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by KnightWRX

Forget it, for some posters, Apple must win at all costs... Shows how much credibility any of those guys really have (ie, none.). It's sad to see humans having to lower themselves to the rank of corporate puppet, even when they aren't on the payroll.

Or it could be your previous suggestion - that they are really fans of Windows/Microsoft/Android/Google and here just to make Apple fans look ridiculous...

[melendezest]

I wonder how feasible, cost-wise, it would be for Apple to brand the iPhone5 and its packaging differently for Brazil.

For example, say, just use the symbol instead of the i.

This would make them highly collectible as well (due to their uniqueness), and possibly drive sales even further.

Otherwise, Apple is just going to pay up, start selling it, and get on with making the money back in less than 1 quarter....

EDIT: Whoops! Someone beat me to it...

[melendezest]

Originally Posted by Oletros

What lawsuits are you talking about?

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Apple should leave Brazil, Apple should leave UK, Apple should leave Italy.

Do you people really read the things you write or it is an automated bot the one writing them when Apple loses any lawsuit areound the world?

Every team has its fans.

I'd say most fans support and defend their teams (hardcore) against any "threat". Some fans complain about their teams sucking when they do. I believe the individuals you mention fall in the former category.

Disclaimer: I'm a hardcore Apple fan, but even I can recognize that business is business, the law is the law, and moral ideas vary with each individual. Hence, the debate...