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Brazilian Electronics Firm IGB Electronica Revives Long-Running iPhone Trademark Dispute

Brazilian Consumer Electronics firm IGB has revived a long-running trademark dispute with Apple over the use of the iPhone trademark in Brazil.

IGB originally registered the “iPhone” name in 2000 and began to sell a lineup of IPHONE-branded Android smartphones in 2012. During a short period of time, the Brazilian company was awarded exclusive rights to the iPhone trademark, but that ruling was overturned and Apple and IGB were both given the right to use the name in the country.

A decision in 2018 upheld the 2013 ruling that gave both companies the right to use the trademark. Now, the case has been brought to the Supreme Federal Court in Brazil, says Brazilian site Tecnoblog (via Reddit).

In this most recent lawsuit, IGB is looking to reverse the 2018 decision. It could take several years to get a final ruling from the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court. IGB is likely hoping for a payoff from Apple to end the dispute, as the Brazilian firm has been in judicial recovery since 2018 and has so far lost close to 1 billion Brazilian Reals.

(Via MacRumors)

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.