Apple's 'iPhone' trademark being challenged in India by iVoice Enterprises
Apple’s “iPhone” trademark is being challenged yet again outside the U.S. This time, the battle of the brands has been set in India.
As reported by Patently Apple, an Indian company called iVoice Enterprises has filed a “rectification petition” with the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) to have Apple’s “iPhone” trademark removed from the country’s trademark registry.
Exactly why the name of Apple’s world-renowned smartphone is being challenged by iVoice is unclear at the moment. But it’s likely that the Indian company, which deals with intellectual property rights and mobile apps, is playing the “i” prefix card.
In that case, iVoice doesn’t have recent history on its side. Just last June, Apple was absolved in a trademark lawsuit involving its “iPhone” brand and a Mexican telecommunications company’s phonetically identical “iFone” name.
In accordance with iVoice’s petition, Apple is required by IPAB to respond with a counter statement no later than November.
Apple’s latest iPhones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, were released in India on Oct. 17.
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