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Apple Loses Trademark Claim Against iFone in Mexico

Posted by Soulskill on from the still-working-on-the-i-time-machine dept.

sfcrazy writes "Apple is having trouble in Mexico right before the holiday season. The company has lost rights to the name iPhone in the country, as it was already owned by a Mexican telecom company called iFone (Google translation of Spanish original). iFone registered its trademark in 2003, four years before Apple iPhone was launched. In 2009, Apple filed a complaint with the Mexican Industrial Property Institute demanding that iFone stop using is name because it could confuse users. That claim was since denied, and iFone is looking to turn the tables."

16 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe by jasper160 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ay Phone!

    --
    No good deed goes unpunished.
    1. Re:Maybe by antdude · · Score: 1, Funny

      Or YoPhone. ;)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    2. Re:Maybe by Kielistic · · Score: 3, Funny

      iDios mio

    3. Re:Maybe by Guignol · · Score: 1, Funny

      iMisHijos

  2. Confusing much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "(...) Apple filed a complaint with the Mexican Industrial Property Institute demanding that iFone stop using is name because it could confuse users."

    Confuse users? If they're worried about users getting confused, they should start with refining iOS 6 Maps...

    1. Re:Confusing much? by spyke252 · · Score: 5, Funny

      How do you think Apple's lawyers got to Mexico in the first place? "Siri, get me directions from Cupertino to Mountain View..."

  3. Might as well switch the name in Mexico to: by DikSeaCup · · Score: 2, Funny

    yoPhone!

    --
    I talk about stuff.
  4. Re:Brief story... by Andy+Prough · · Score: 1, Funny

    You are hipster royalty in a way, I guess.

  5. Re:Wait a second. by partyguerrilla · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes we maintain several judicial facilities powered by burros and corruption.

  6. Re:Didn't Do The Research by ByOhTek · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ahh, you seem to think they are mutually exclusive.

    You've obviously never met my ex-girlfriend...

    --
    Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
  7. Re:Wait a second. by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Funny

    We're... we're not so different after all!

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  8. Re:Didn't Do The Research by gedeco · · Score: 2, Funny

    I cannot wait until Apple claims the rights to the word iDIOT....

  9. Re:Didn't Do The Research by omnichad · · Score: 4, Funny

    And then gets sued by the Illinois Department of Transportation because of brand confusion. I mean, half the state may be mispronouncing their abbreviation already, and introducing a product with that actual name will be confusing to consumers.

  10. Re:So what is the iPhone going to be called, then? by jenningsthecat · · Score: 4, Funny

    But seriously, what will it be called?

    Since it's an Apple product, call it the aPhone.

    The docking port? That's the aHole...

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
  11. Re:Didn't Do The Research by mrstrano · · Score: 1, Funny

    I think you can safely assume that most people on the Internet have, in fact, not met your ex-girlfriend. Unless you broke up because of some egregious case of cheating.

  12. Re:Didn't Do The Research by NoSleepDemon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Consider yourself lucky that you're even still alive, I heard she convinced some poor geek from Toronto to take out seven of those ex's!