Apple loses China trademark fight

Apple Inc has lost a battle for the use of the “iPhone” trademark on leather goods in China after a Beijing court ruled against the world’s biggest technology company in favor of a local firm. Reuters reported The Beijing Municipal High People’s Court said Xintong Tiandi can continue to use the phrase “iPhone” on its leather goods, according to the Legal Daily, the official newspaper of China’s Justice Ministry. In a statement, Apple said it was disappointed with the ruling. The U.S. tech company has repeatedly found itself tangled in intellectual property disputes in China where the sheer number of companies means trademarks are often taken by little-known players.