Although Apple's iPhone trademark is registered in the US, they've somehow lost some of their rights to the trademark in Brazil. Brazilian regulators have ruled that Apple does not have exclusive rights to use the "iPhone" trademark in the country. Although Apple will appeal the ruling, they had rightfully argued before the court that it should have been given full rights since Gradiente had not released a product using the iPhone name until December 2012.
Apple will continue to have exclusive rights to use the iPhone name elsewhere including on clothing, in software and across publications. The ruling against Apple doesn't affect selling iPhone-branded handsets in what is Latin America's biggest market. The kicker here however is that Gradiente has an option of suing for exclusivity, reports the BBC.
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