Brazilian "iPhone" Knockoff Actually an Android Device

[Phillip Swanson]

Apple and Brazil have an interesting relationship. Their largest manufacturing partner Foxconn has a number of facilities there as production costs become cheaper than the traditionally inexpensive Chinese labor.

Which is why this Brazilian “iPhone” is rather odd.

A Brazilian electronics company called Gradiente claims to have exclusive rights to the “iphone” name in the country, and has released their own iPhone. The phone in question is an Android 2.3 device which is two full iterations behind the current 4.2 Jellybean build of Android utilized on recent flagship releases. The company claims it has the rights to Apple’s phone namesake until 2018 and will continue to use the name as part of corporate restructuring process according to the Associated Press.

“In Brazil, Gradiente has the exclusive right to use the iPhone brand. This company will adopt all the measures used by companies around the world to preserve its intellectual property rights.” — Graiente Press Release

Gradiente’s deceptive tactis are likely a last ditch effort to help the struggling electronics company buy time during the tail end of their restructuring process. Still, with specs like a 320 x 480pixel display, 700MHz single-core ARM processor, 2GB of storage and complete lack of multi-touch will only fool the technologically deft.

However, Gradiente has a history of releasing subpar ripoffs, and cheap electronics. The company, founded in 1964, even released it's own licensed, but rebranded NES system in the 80's. Innovation doesn't appear to be one of the company's strong points.

Sources: Gizmodo, Associated Press

[KraXik]

Awesome. Put me down for 6.

[Raybeast]

Here comes a lawsuit!

[Digitalfeind]

They should have Apple pay them for the name and cash in, big time. They're not going to fool a lot of people into buying their phone in Brazil.

[thazsar]

They should have Apple pay them for the name and cash in, big time. They're not going to fool a lot of people into buying their phone in Brazil.

Or....Apple doesn't have to sell the iPhone in Brazil and let the citizens get pissed off enough to overturn their (Gradiente's) 'iPhone' exclusive rights

[ellersbee]

[PokemonDesigner]

That looks absolutely nothing like an iPhone.

[rcm]

Here comes a lawsuit!

from who?, they are stealing from both apple and google

[MMX007]

I can't believe it!
I found an Apple exactly like the other Apple in my local supermarket same shape possibly with a bit different specification but I still bought it and ate it! Did I infringe any copyright? Answers on a postcard please. Amen! 😰

[Anthony Bouchard]

Please stay on topic. Thanks.

[Gaijinboy]

Does this mean Apple can't sell a product called "iPhone" in Brazil?

[rcm]

I wonder what google has to say about their operating system being used on a cheap phone, called iphone.

[runey71]

That looks absolutely nothing like an iPhone. Stop being stupid.

Stop being a troll. No one said it looked anything like an iPhone. It's called an iPhone because in Brazil Apple don't own the rights to the name. Read the article next time.

[dsjarvis]

That looks absolutely nothing like an iPhone.

I agree, but it's the name if the device "iPhone" not the appearance of it,is what the post is about

[truenorth]

On a business trip in Manila. Was accosted by street vendors and offered an 'iPhone 4' (shortly before the 5 was officially released here). I wasn't gonna buy but out of curiosity, I stopped to check out the phone. First thing I looked at was the back. It said 'Made in United States of America (sic)'.

One may find real iPhones here but on the street, it's virtually 100% certain it's stolen. Imported legit ones sold in stores before official release are sold for almost $500 profit margin.

[unison999]

That look nothing like an iPhone, so it is not a knockoff.

[King_O_Hill]

That look nothing like an iPhone, so it is not a knockoff.

Next time read the article first. It's not supposed to look like it, they are just using the name as stated a couple of times already.

[Digitalfeind]

from who?, they are stealing from both apple and google

How are they stealing from either?? They have the rights to use the name "iPhone" to sell their product.

[rcm]

They have the rights to the name iPhone, but does that mean you can have android on a phone, with the name of it's biggest rival, after all, the court battle between Apple and Samsung have gone from simple design conflicts, to the size of the icons. In the end they may have the rights to use the name iPhone, but i think it's a different story when it comes to the OS. Also, they are using a 2 year old OS, so is Google even aware that phones are still being made with such an old version of it?, cuz even the chinese knockoffs have updated a bit.

[runey71]

They have the rights to the name iPhone, but does that mean you can have android on a phone, with the name of it's biggest rival, after all, the court battle between Apple and Samsung have gone from simple design conflicts, to the size of the icons. In the end they may have the rights to use the name iPhone, but i think it's a different story when it comes to the OS. Also, they are using a 2 year old OS, so is Google even aware that phones are still being made with such an old version of it?, cuz even the chinese knockoffs have updated a bit.

Google may not like it but there is nothing in their terms and conditions that would prevent it. Apple may have some recourse to do something about it considering how closely linked the name iPhone is to their product. That really depends on the Brazilian courts though.