Cements American trademark control

Apple has been granted a new set of iPhone trademarks by the US Patent and Trademark Office. While the company already owns the name "iPhone" for various purposes, a new grant extends the American trademarks to include a common logo, which utilizes the Apple symbol alongside text. It also extends the number of categories covered; whereas the basic iPhone name is covered under International Classes 9 and 38, the logo trademarks add Class 28, which mentions "playing electronic games."

Apple now effectively controls American rights to the iPhone brand. In 2007 the company briefly fought with Cisco over the term, which was being using for VoIP hardware. There has otherwise been little challenge to ownership, a notable exception being Comwave, a Canadian company which has also been using the name for VoIP. The Apple iPhone is nevertheless sold by four Canadian carriers, as well as Apple itself.

by MacNN Staff