Gradiente vs. Apple: The Brazilian iPhone Trademark Dispute
Brazilian company Gradiente continues its legal battle with Apple over the "iPhone" trademark. Gradiente claims it patented the name in 2000, seven years before Apple's iPhone launch. Gradiente CEO Eugênio Staub defends the company's claim, emphasizing they sold 30,000 "Gradiente Iphone" units in Brazil before Apple's product existed. See related Xiaomi product launches.
Although Gradiente's trademark was officially granted in 2008, after Apple's iPhone release, Staub maintains they launched a similar product earlier with the same name. The dispute arose after Gradiente relaunched an Android "Gradiente Iphone" smartphone in 2012. Apple subsequently challenged Gradiente's trademark, leading to partial invalidation in 2013. Check out other smartphones for comparison.
Both companies await a final judgment from Brazil's Supreme Court. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Staub expresses admiration for Steve Jobs and Apple's innovation, while also lamenting Brazil's lack of recognition for its own innovations. The final trial date is yet to be announced. For more on Apple, see Apple's Cyber Monday deals.