Erode-based phone manufacturer claims it has challenged trademark of iPhone in IPAB

The company said that it has filed a rectification application to remove the trademark of iPhone from Indian Trademark Registry

Erode-based mobile phone manufacturer and distributor, iVoice Enterprises has filed a rectification petition with the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) to remove US phone major Apple Inc's trademark on iPhone from the Indian Trademark Registry, according a company announcement.

The company, in a release issued here, said that it has earlier filed a petition in Patent and Trademark office, Delhi, challenging the veracity of trademark number 1144193 in Class 9 of iPhone, which will be taken up for hearing by IPAB on October 30, 2014.

iVoice, in its announcement, said that the IPAB would be hearing regarding the admissibility of the counter statement of Apple. IPAB has issued notice to Apple to appear for the hearing on October 30, 2014.

Meanwhile, iVoices Ventures Pvt Ltd has acquired the IP rights of a pending trademark application number 1556676 in Class 9, from iVoice Enterprises and title transfer in the petition, pending before the IPAB. Class 9 in the Trademark rules, pertains to "scientific, nautical, surveying, electric, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; automatic vending machines and mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers and fire extinguishing apparatus".