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Apple loses 'Ifone' appeal case in Mexico
Apple has lost its appeal case in Mexico over the naming rights to the iPhone in the country, according to the Wall Street Journal. As we reported in November, in 2009 Apple asked Ifone, a Mexican telecommunications company which registered its name in 2003, to change its name to avoid confusion. The company refused and Apple sued it, saying Ifone had lost its naming rights due to letting the brand lapse. Apple lost its request in court and was subsequently counter-sued by Ifone for damages. Ifone then also sought to cease sales of any iPhone-branded Apple product, which prompted Apple to file its injunction. According to the Wall Street Journal, "The [Mexican] Supreme Court this week rejected Apple's appeal against the decision at the request of Ifone. Ifone's corporate lawyer Eduardo Gallastegui said the decision frees the company to continue with its claims, already submitted to the Industrial Property Institute IMPI, for damages resulting from the use of its name by Apple and by three Mexican mobile phone service providers: America Movil unit Telcel, Spain's Telefonica SA and Grupo Iusacell." There is no word yet on how this will affect Apple's ability to sell its iPhone in Mexico. However it's possible that the two companies will come to a financial agreement that benefits them both.
Apple's claim to iPhone trademark in Mexico gets a nail in the appeals coffin
Apple's already lost hope for exclusive rights to the name "iPhone" in Brazil, and now it's been defeated in another battle south of the border. Cupertino and Mexican company iFone S.A. have a long history, stretching back to 2009 when Apple tried to have the firm's "iFone" trademark revoked. The electronics giant claimed that the mark had expired since it was registered in 2003. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that a Mexican federal court ruled last year that the small company's claim to the name was valid, and that Cook and Co. can't make it their own. Now, Mexico's Supreme Court has put another nail in the coffin, upholding the previous decision. iFone intends to seek some coin in the form of damages, but all is not lost for Apple: it still has two trademarks to the iPhone moniker in the country and can keep selling its hardware.
Daily Update for November 2, 2012
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Apple loses right to "iPhone" brand in Mexico
Apple's scheduled release of the iPhone 5 in Mexico might have to be put on hold thanks to a court ruling that could ban sales of iPhone-branded products in the country. iFone, a Mexican telecommunications company which registered its name in 2003, has thus far been on the winning end of a legal battle with Apple. El Universal reports that a court in Mexico City has denied Apple's request for an injunction that would have allowed the company to continue selling its smartphones without issue. Apple cast the first stone in this particular war after the release of the first iPhone, asking iFone to change its name to avoid confusion. Apple lost its request in court and was subsequently counter-sued by iFone for damages. iFone then also sought to cease sales of any iPhone-branded Apple product, which prompted Apple to file its injunction. Now that Apple's hopes for trouble-free iPhone sales in Mexico have been dashed, we'll have to wait and see whether the two companies can come to some sort of an agreement or if they will remain in a legal chokehold until either side relents. [Via: Electronista]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXI: iFone 3G is more than phonetically inaccurate
Not even 24 hours after discovering the completely befuddling iFone x1 comes this, something entirely more recognizable, yet just as wrong. The iFone 3G is -- so far as we can tell -- the first mass produced KIRF of the iPhone 3G, and if history has anything to prove, it'll be just the first in a long, long linage. The best part? The whole "3G" thing in the model name is not representative of actual data band support, so the best you'll do on this heap of festering rubbish is EDGE. At the $5 to $10 range, we could definitely see picking one up for kicks and giggles, but at $178? Psssh... no thanks, poser.[Thanks, Scott]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXX: the highly confused (and confusing) iFone x1
How would you improve the XPERIA X1? If you answered, "remove the keyboard and add a mangled iPhone UI," then the iFone x1 will be right up your alley. Of course, this ain't the first phony X1 we've seen, but it might be our fave. What can we say about this one? It appears to be running Windows CE, it quite possibly supports dual SIM cards, and it has an FM receiver (probably). Does that excite you? In the mood for a good laugh? In either case, be sure to check out the hilarious translation below, and don't forget to peep the video after the break.[Via Pocket Now]
