DHAKA: The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has ruled in favor of local firm iFone’s rights to the ‘iFone’ name.

IMPI said ads for Apple’s iPhone have encroach on the trademark, media reports, says telecompaper.com.

Mexico’s iFone registered the name in 2003 for specialized telephone service for call centers and businesses.

Apple registered the similar iPhone moniker in 2007 for its mobile phone. iFone does not produce mobile phones.

IMPI said the two names are phonetically identical, and thus there was a trademark encroachment.

The institute also decided that Mexican mobile operators America Movil, Telefonica and Iusacell must pay a fine of about USD 104,000 and stop using the term ‘iPhone’ as a promotional name for their calling plans.

However, Apple is not specifically covered by the ruling, since it does not provide calling services, just mobile phones.

Apple previously argued that iFone’s trademark had lapsed. The ruling can be appealed, but the IMPI claims about 68 percent of its rulings are upheld on appeal.

BDST: 1853 HRS, JUNE 09, 2014