India is a huge growing market for the iPhone, but a trademark dispute brought by a local Indian company called iVoice Enterprises could throw a wrench in those plans — by attempting to bar Apple from using the handset name it made famous.
You see, as it turns out, back in early 2007 iVoice Enterprises tried to tap into what was then the start of India’s mobile revolution.
Their name for an affordable cellphone? iFon, phonetically pronounced “iPhone.”
The device never made it to market, though, and after Apple announced the iPhone we all know and love, iVoice’s director claims that, “investors backed out and sources of funds dried up. Our overseas investors and partners did not support us, leading to irrecoverable financial impact on our business model. As such, we could not launch the phone.”
Based on that summary, it seems that the case would get laughed out of court, but that doesn’t appear to have happened. In fact, India’s Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) is reportedly asking Apple to officially respond to the trademark issue.
While the idea that Apple could somehow be barred from calling its mobile handsets the iPhone in India sounds (and most likely is) farfetched, it’s not without precedent. In late 2012, Apple lost an appeal that means carriers in Mexico can no longer make use of the word “iPhone,” since it infringes on yet another “iFone” trademark — this time owned by a small call center in Mexico, which has owned the name since 2003.
Source: Times of India
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
19 responses to “iPhone may have to find a new name in India”
This is just someone again trying to make a buck using Apple’s name.
Another case of produce a product or STFU. IF I were Apple, I would ask for documentation of everything, investors, backing out, etc….. Bury them in producing paperwork that they will never be able to produce.
So if I patent the name iFun, I can sue Apple because it sounds similar? Lol. Eat dirts, iFon.
Sorry. My girlfriend already has a patent on that.
Apple filed for the trademark in India in 2006. Case closed.
Man, didn’t apple just win that Mexico case
Just pronounce it “Eye pee honey” in all TV and radio advertising in India. Done.
Even better, “I pee honey.” ;)
Just stop selling in that country. Yes, somebody trying to extort money as usual. Very common theme
I’m going to come up with a name for a country and I shall spell in Indeeuh, pronounced India. And now it will be time to sue.
That’s irrelevant, because iFon was created before iPhone. Same thing with your stupid metaphor.
Must be a subversive plot by Samsung
Even if they change the name, iPhone will be known as iPhone for me and for the rest of the world.
What’s worse than Apple fanboys? Apple fanboy Internet lawyers.
US Trademark laws stipulate that a trade or service mark can be applied for an actual product or service IN COMMERCE. Since the Indian iFon was NEVER IN REAL COMMERCE — it lost any prior protection for the name.
The ‘in commerce’ provision was created to prevent name-squatting with no intention of creating a merchantable product — as seems to be the case here.
Only problem is this is under Indian Trademark Law. Which more or less means with enough bribes anyone can win.
Of course Apple could just pay the $25.00 to buy this company and use the iPhone name all they want. :)
Humans are vermin.