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Nokia battling for Ovi brand in Brazil

By: , IntoMobile
Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 11:58 AM

nokia-ovi-logoNokia’s Ovi brand apparently isn’t as unique as the Finnish mobile phone giant would like. Ovi is Nokia’s online portal for mobile services, app and music downloads, and videos. Turns out, there’s a similar mobile-related brand called “Ouvi” in Brazil. And, you know what happens when competing trademarks and copyrights in the mobile space butt heads. It’s trademark injunction time! Nokia has announced that Brazil’s Ouvi has filed for an injunction against Nokia’s use of their “Ovi” brand.

Brazil’s Ouvi is a company that peddles ringtones and SMS news. Ouvi isn’t in direct competition with Ovi, per se, but there’s enough market overlap to give Nokia reason to worry. Nokia knows this, and is reportedly willing to work with Ouvi on an out-of-court settlement. Translation? Nokia is willing to pay Ouvi handsomely for the right to use the “Ovi” brand in Brazil.

It must be nice to have a company name similar to a mega corporation’s online service.

[Via: AFP]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...