iPhone facing potential trademark issues in China?
by Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 2nd 2009 at 3:34PM
Apple's on-again, off-again deal with China Unicom to officially bring the iPhone to China may still be up in the air, but it looks like it could now also be facing some trademark issues that could potentially further hold up its release. Apparently, China's Hanwang Technology owns the trademark for "i-phone" in the country, which could force Apple to make a deal with 'em before it enters the market (sound familiar?). Interestingly, Apple does actually own an "iPhone" trademark in China, but it apparently only covers computer hardware and software, while Hanwang's trademark covers mobile phones. According to Hanwang, however, the two aren't actually in talks just yet, and it's not saying what it plans to do if Apple decides to go crazy and announce a move into China without its blessing.
[Via mocoNews.net]
[Via mocoNews.net]
Filed under: Handsets, China Unicom, Apple
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Oren @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:38PM
Or they could just name it ApplePhone or something. It's not like everyone won't know what it is.
Billium @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:18PM
Really funny how the Chinese seem to care about copyright when it's protecting their own! Sell it as is or better yet support the black market and beat them at their own game!
Jamar @ Jul 3rd 2009 5:42AM
That may be their only choice- to do no more than have their repair centers and stores offer support to people with iPhones with any proof of purchase instead of selling them directly if this company (they make really crappy stuff, don't buy, srsly) sues or something. On the plus side, this leaves Sharp as the one flagship maker for Unicom, and more Japanese phones for China is something I'll wholeheartedly support.