Regulators in Brazil confirmed that Apple’s iPhone trademark in the country belonged to Gradiente Electronica, which had registered the name in 2000.
CBS News reported that the Institute of Industry Property ruled in favor of Gradiente Electronica, which meant Apple could not use the name iPhone in Brazil.
Gradiente began selling what it calls iPhones last December, years after it filed for the trademark, which Apple argued validated Gradiente’s claim to the brand name.