Apple are close to resolving it's long-running Brazilian trademark issues, with the unofficial iPhone currently running Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Holding the patent for the iPhone (lower case P) since 2000, South American manufacturer IGB Gradiente looks set to reach an "amicable solution" to the issue own the iPhone copyright.

Registering the name a full seven years before Apple released its product, the Brazilian National Institute dismissed Apple's request to have the name quashed, hence it's existence in today's market.

That said, both companies requested enforcement of the ruling to be delayed in February, hoping to find a peaceful, and no doubt financially rewarding, solution to the problem.

And it appears an agreement has been reached, with a source in the middle of the talks saying the companies are making serious strides in concluding a deal.

It's not the first time Apple has had to fork out serious cash to keep it's product names prominent across the world.

Remember Proview? The Cupertino firm shelled out a whopping US$60m for the Chinese rights to the iPad trademark in July last year, despite the company only paying $55,000 for the original trademark three years prior.

So, what's the moral of the story? For all those companies out there looking to make a quick buck, think of a product and whack a small 'i' in front, then sit and wait for the dollar bills to follow.

Easier said than done right? iGuess so.