One reason that the iPhone has not launched in Canada is that Canadian company Comwave Telecom Inc. claims to own the rights to the iPhone trademark in Canada. Last year, the company filed a motion opposing Apple’s trademark application with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).
According to updates to the Apple filing, CIPO will provide an initial report on the trademark validity in late June. The decision will likely play a role in the outcome of the whole trademark dispute with Comwave.
Comwave president Yuval Barzakay has indicated that the dispute can only be settled in one of two ways: Apple gives up on its Canadian trademark or buys it from Comwave. The ruling could decide just how much Apple would be willing to pay.
Source: Electronista