Apple fights back against iPhone ruling in Brazil

                  Apple has struck back in its ongoing battle over the "iPhone" trademark in Brazil.

Not surprisingly, Apple has decided to challengethe ruling laid down yesterday by the Institute of Industry Property (INPI) that Gradiente Eletronica's registration for the "iphone" trademark in 2000 is valid, Reuters is reporting today, citing conversations with people within INPI.

Now that Apple has challenged the ruling, Gradiente has 60 days to prove that it made use of the branding between January 2008 and January 2013. Gradiente wasn't authorized to use the iPhone trademark until 2008. Apple launched its iPhone in Brazil in 2007.

Gradiente did not actually use the iPhone trademark until this past December, when it launched a spate of Android-based handsets using the "iphone" moniker. Whether that will be enough for Gradiente to hold onto the iPhone name remains to be seen.

Although Apple has decided to make its case with INPI, the company has the right to settle the matter out of court. Apple did just that in early 2007 when it cut a deal with Cisco Systems, which originally owned the iPhone name. Apple last year settled another lawsuit with China-based company Proview over the use of the iPad trademark.