Brazil’s IGB Eletronica a telecommunications company currently own the iPhone trademark in Brazil and it sells its own make of iPhone in Brazil, the only twist is that it is a device running Android OS and not iOS. Apple seems to have been in discussion with IGB to get the trademark issue resolved and recently a Brazil’s largest daily Folha De São Paulo, IGB and Apple seems to have agreed to end the lawsuit over the trademark and come to some sort of agreement.
IGB electronica never had any device before the launch of iPhone and it launched the phone only when its trademark was almost expiring. Apple tried to contest in Brazilian court over the same but the court sided with IGB in the end. In late February requesting that the court suspend enforcement of the ruling until the two could find a peaceful solution to the problem. Apple is suspected to have paid millions of dollars to get the trademark issue solved.
This is not something new to Apple, last year Apple settled down a trademark issue with Chinese computer manufacturing company Proview by making a whooping payment of $60 million. Apple originally purchased the iPhone trademark in the US from Cisco which has planned to sell its internet telephone branded as iPhone in the US.
Apple seems to be fighting a case again iPad 4 as well in brazil which involves an early release of iPad 4 after iPad 3 was launched.