Apple Loses Trademark IPhone Fight In China, To Appeal In Supreme Court

iPhone is not an exclusive product in China, if the ruling of a local court is any indication.

A Chinese court ruled against the Cupertino behemoth in a trademark infringement lawsuit it filed against Xintong Tiandi, a company that makes leather products including iPhone cases. According to BBC, Apple had applied for iPhone trademark in China in 2003 but attained approval only in 2013. Tiandi has held the trademark since 2010.

Apple first registered its complaint in 2012 and later went to court when the regulatory authority did not rule in its favour. Two court orders, the second being the latest, ruled against Apple. The company now plans to move the Supreme Court.

"Apple is disappointed the Beijing Higher People's Court chose to allow Xintong to use the IPHONE mark for leather goods when we have prevailed in several other cases against Xintong," Apple said in its statement. "We intend to request a retrial with the Supreme People's Court and will continue to vigorously protect our trademark rights."

In 2009, Apple began selling iPhones in China. Apple has been in similar battles in China where it tussled over iPad and other trademarks. It reportedly paid $ 60 million to settle the IPAD issue.

"We work hard to make the best products in the world," Apple said. "We want to ensure our customers' experience is not compromised by companies who try to profit from using our brand".

Apple recently showed a decline in revenue and iPhone sales are said to be falling. BBC reports, iPhone sales in China have fallen by 26 percent. China also presents other problems including privacy issues, including the demand to comply with a ruling that required Apple to store its Chinese content to store on servers in mainland China. iBooks and iTunes were shutdown after the ruling.