Apple Inc. (AAPL) Loses in Brazil, Wins in California

It has almost become its own report. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has so much interest that it isn’t about Apple news as a single category. The company has developed its own sub-category, called the Daily Apple Legal Briefs. OK, as of now.

Cupertino is starting to be on a first-name basis with judges and regulators all over the world. In that vein, we present another installment of the Daily Apple Legal Briefs, which takes us to Brazil and to California.

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SORRY, IT’S BEEN TAKEN

While this process isn’t entirely completed yet, it appears that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may lose the initial decision regarding the “iPhone” trademark to a local telephone company in Brazil. The decision from the Brazilian Institute for Intellectual Property is due to come down next week, but sources are saying that the “iphone” trademark rightfully belongs to Gradiente Telefonica, which trademarked the name in 2000 – a full seven years before Apple unveiled its first iPhone.  Once the decision is officially released, Apple has the option to apeal in the Brazilian court system.

The case surrounds the spelling of the trademark. Gradiente trademarked “iFone,” while Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) contended that because it spells iPhone differently, there is no trademark infringement. But it appers the regulating body will rule that Gradiente owns the trademark not just in spelling but also phonetically.

NO BUILDING, NO PROBLEM

The other legal brief for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) comes from its home state, as the company won a privacy victory in the California state supreme court. What did Apple win, and how does it affect brick-and-mortar competition?

The California high court which ruled that state privacy laws apply only to brick-and-mortar retailers, not online transactions, when it comes to credit-card payments. The ruling came in a case that involved Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) requiring home addresses and phone numbers to secure credit-card payments in its online store. State law made it a violation of privacy for brick-and-mortar stores to require such information from customers to verify identity. The court ruled that transactions online are different than in person.

What do you think of these legal briefs? Which of these will affect Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) more? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.

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