Apple has lost its exclusive rights to the ‘iPhone’ brand in China, the Beijing Municipal High People’s Court has ruled.
According to Quartz, Chinese company Xintong Tiandi is now free to continue selling its non-smartphone “IPHONE” branded products, which include smartphone cases, among other leather goods.
The Chinese court ruled that Xintong Tiandi, which registered the “IPHONE” trademark in 2007, could continue to use the trademark because Apple did not start selling the iPhone in China until 2009.
Apple also could not prove that Xintong Tiandi’s ongoing use of the trademark would cause Apple material harm.
The latest ruling by the Chinese government follows its recent decision to shut down the iTunes Movies and iBooks Store.
