Apple fights back against iPhone ruling in Brazil -- report

Apple has struck back in its ongoing battle over the "iPhone" trademark in Brazil.Not surprisingly, Apple has decided to challenge the 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.

Apple fans celebrate Steve Jobs' 57th birthday

Today is the birthday of Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple.Jobs passed away last October, succumbing to a battle with pancreatic cancer. Had he lived, this would have been his 57th birthday.Fans remembered him on Twitter today, with "happy birthday Steve Jobs" quickly becoming one of the service's top trends. According to the New York Post, an unofficial birthday party for Jobs is also planned outside outside Apple's flagship retail store in New York.Related storiesThe death of Steve Jobs, 1955-2011 (roundup)Steve Jobs: A timelineSteve Jobs at Apple: A retrospective (photos)Following Jobs' death, interest piqued about the technology visionary and inventor. Jobs was the main topic and namesake of an authorized biography by author Walter Isaacson. He was also the subject of the main exhibit at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office highlighting some 300 inventions that bore his name.Apple, for its part, held a private celebration of Jobs' life in late October, complete with speeches by former Vice President Al Gore and CEO Tim Cook, as well as performances by Nora Jones and Coldplay. That event, held at the company's headquarters, was later posted in video form to Apple's Web site, and is still available for viewing.