Every time a company wants to open a market in a country, first of all you must register the brand of your devices / products so that you do not have problems when it comes to selling them. Previously, it happened to Apple in Mexico with the iPhone and in China with the iPad, which had previously been registered by other companies and forced the Cupertino-based guys to take out the checkbook in order to reach an agreement that would allow them to make use of it. Of the brand. But Apple faces another problem, again in China, with a smartphone case maker.
The supreme court of China has rejected the appeal that Apple presented before the court's ruling by removing the reason for wanting to use the iPhone brand exclusively, a brand that had previously been registered by Xintong Tiandi, a manufacturer of cases for smartphones. These cases are engraved with the IPHONE name. But it not only manufactures cases for smartphones but also manufactures passport cases as well as computer accessories.
Xintong Tiandi registered the trademark in China in 2007, the same year that the Apple company introduced the iPhone in the United States. However, it took Apple five years to register the trademark in China, in 2012, to be able to sell mobile devices and computer products. This is the main and only reason why Apple appealed the judge's decision, which has been dismissed.
In 2013, the Chinese government stated that Apple could not prove that the name iPhone was known before the firm Xintong Tiandi register it in the country. Apple appealed, stating that these products could cause confusion among the firm's users believing that the cases and / or computer products it manufactures come from the Cupertino-based company.
Apple has had a complicated relationship with the Chinese government almost from his arrival. In 2012, he had to pay $ 60 million to make use of the iPad name. Last month saw the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television shut down iTunes Movies and iBooks without explaining the reason for this decision, but it is clear that the strict censorship of the country has passed the roller for both stores.