Technology giant Apple plans to take its latest trademark dispute over the iPhone name in China to the mainland's highest court, the company said today.

"We intend to request a retrial with the Supreme People's Court and will continue to vigorously protect our trademark rights," Apple said in a statement sent to the South China Morning Post.

California-based Apple recently lost its appeal in the Beijing Municipal Higher People's Court, which ruled that Xintong Tiandi Technology (Beijing) can use the "IPHONE" trademark on a range of leather goods.

That decision virtually ended the exclusive rights of Apple to use the iPhone name on the mainland.

The iPhone is the company's flagship product and the most popular device that it sells on the mainland, the world's biggest smartphone market.

"Apple is disappointed the Beijing Higher People's Court chose to allow Xintong to use the IPHONE mark for leather goods when we have prevailed in several other cases against Xintong," the Apple statement said.