Apple and NZ inventor not seeing eye to i

Electronics giant Apple has got the pip with a Hamilton inventor who has called his waterproof smartphone case the driPhone.

Apple, through a Wellington-based patent firm, told Hayden Crowther it was opposing his application to trademark the driPhone name in New Zealand because it is too similar to its ubiquitous iPhone product.

It has also suggested he change the letter `i' to a `y' to avoid confusion.

But Mr Crowther told Fairfax Media he was not intimidated by the situation and thought Apple's case had "little weight".

Mr Crowther said he would continue to register his trademark in New Zealand and the rest of the world. He has until April 1 to respond to Apple's opposition.