14 DAY TRIAL // The Chinese can now legally purchase IPHONE handbags, purses, and passport cases, as the Beijing Municipal High People’s Court ruled that Apple doesn’t hold exclusive rights over the name “iPhone.”
The trademark dispute between Apple and a local company called Xintong Tiandi Technology (Beijing) Co. was started in 2012, when the Cupertino-based technology giant started legal action to gain exclusive rights over the name iPhone.
Xintong Tiandi registered the brand IPHONE in China in 2007, the same year when it started selling leather products in the country, including handbags, passport cases, wallets, and purses.
Apple, on the other hand, registered the same name for computer software and hardware five years before that, so the company wanted exclusive rights over the name to continue selling the iPhone without letting the Chinese firm capitalize on the popularity of its device.
“We want to work together with Apple to expand the IPHONE brand”
In 2013, however, a local court ruled in the favor of Xintong Tiandi, but Apple appealed the decision, claiming that the trademark violation can hurt its interests.
But a recent court ruling denied Apple’s appeal and grants the Chinese firm the right to continue selling its products in the country under the IPHONE name, as it does not violate Cupertino’s trademark in any way.
The Chinese company is obviously very pleased with the ruling and said in a statement on its website, translate from Chinese by qz, that it wants to work together with Apple to grow the brand.
Most likely, they are looking into ways to reach an agreement with Apple and become a producer of leather iPhone accessories, but this is clearly a long shot given the fact that Cupertino is only working with a handful of partners for genuine accessories.
“We will make full achievement of the iphone trademark and work together with Apple to benefit from iphone consumers,” the statement reads. Apple hasn’t obviously offered any statement on this recent ruling, but it goes without saying that the company does not agree with it and there are very small chances to see them working together with the Chinese firm on growing the iPhone brand.