Apple loses exclusive right to iPhone trademark in China

Apple Inc has lost exclusivity on the use of the "iPhone" trademark in China and has to share it with a Beijing-based leather products maker.

The Beijing Municipal High People's Court has ruled in favor of Xintong Tiandi Technology (Beijing) Ltd, which sells a number of leather products such as smartphone cases and handbags under the name "IPHONE".

In 2002, Apple applied for the "iPhone" trademark for its electronic goods in China, but it wasn't actually granted until 2013.