Hasta La Creative!

Apple lost its fight to keep the “iPhone” name exclusive to its products, with a Beijing court deciding a little-known accessories maker can use the label for a range of wallets and purses.

The ruling affirmed that Xintong Tiandi Technology (Beijing) Ltd. has the right to use the name on a swath of luxury leathergoods, state publication Legal Daily reported. While Apple retains the trademark for mobile devices, it defeats the company’s efforts to gain full ownership of the name in the world’s largest mobile market. It’s also the second time it has lost exclusive use in China of a brand name it coined.

Xintong holds a trademark running the gamut of leather and imitation leather goods, from smartphone cases to products that Apple has never launched, like wallets and clutches, Legal Daily said. The court decision upholds a 2013 ruling that centered on the fact that, when the Chinese company sought its trademark in September 2007, the iPhone had only been linked to products outside of China. Apple didn’t start selling its iconic iPhones in the country until 2009, it said.

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