May 17 2025 – For over a decade, Brazilian electronics firm IGB Eletrônica, formerly known as Gradiente, has been locked in a legal battle with Apple over the rights to use the “iPhone” trademark in Brazil.
The saga began back in 2000 when Gradiente applied for the trademark for its G Gradiente Iphone mobile device. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that the application was finally approved. By that time, Apple had already launched its first-generation iPhone in 2007, which had rapidly gained global recognition. Gradiente, on the other hand, had not yet released any phones under the “iPhone” name.
Fast forward to 2012, Gradiente made a comeback by reintroducing a line of phones named “iPhone.” This move sparked a major conflict between the two companies, prompting Apple to file multiple lawsuits seeking to invalidate Gradiente’s trademark. Gradiente argued for shared usage rights of the name, while Apple insisted on exclusive ownership. The legal back-and-forth saw both companies achieving partial victories.
On Tuesday local time, the Brazilian Federal Court unanimously ruled, with a 5-0 decision, to restore IGB Eletrônica’s ownership of the “G Gradiente Iphone” trademark. The court upheld the validity of Gradiente’s original trademark but imposed restrictions, limiting its use to the scope described in the registration.
It’s worth noting that Apple currently holds exclusive rights to the “iPhone” trademark in Brazil. Nonetheless, if this ruling is upheld by a higher court, the situation could become even more convoluted, potentially opening up new legal challenges and market dynamics for both companies in the Brazilian market.
