You may already know that Apple is the trademark of their iPhone handset in Brazil Suffering from uncertainty. A local company, along with Gradient Electronics, has sued the court for the exclusive right to use the word “iPhone” as a product name. Apple’s self-confidence seems to have been a bit high in this regard, as the US company has made a lot of noise about the “exclusivity” of the “iPhone” trademark. In the end, Apple came to the court and lost.

The Brazilian company Gradient submitted an application to the country’s trademark authorities in 2000 to use the “iPhone” name on their handsets, and in 2008 they acquired the rights. This is the reason why Apple was defeated.

The company will be able to continue selling smartphones despite the trademark complications. However, there will be an opportunity for Gradient to sue Apple, as the court ruled that the “iPhone” trademark now belongs to a local company.

However, iPhone maker Apple has already appealed against the recent verdict. They argue that since Gradient did not release any mobile sets using the trademark in question between January 2006 and January 2013, the US company has the sole right to own the iPhone.

In a similar vein, Apple has demanded the cancellation of Gradient’s “iPhone” trademark.

The Brazilian 7 mobile phone maker is currently selling an Android-based smartphone called the “iPhone Neo One” with a market value of ৪ 304.

Apple’s largest market in South America is Brazil, where their electronics manufacturing partner Foxconn produces iPhones and iPads in a local factory. Even if Apple loses the appeal, the company can still resolve the trademark issue through out-of-court negotiations. In this case, there is a possibility of exchanging a large amount of cash.