There's the Apple iPhone SE, and then there's the LG G5 SE.

So it seems that where Apple leads, others are sure to follow, and LG is the first one to do just that.

Previously, LG's own CEO Cho Juno, expressed some harsh criticism of Apple's newest iPhone.

"Rolling out a product with the same-old technology and features is not LG's way," said Cho in an interview with the Korea Herald.

Ironically, however, a recently uncovered trademark filing made by LG reveals that the company has actually trademarked the name "G5 SE."

Now the Apple iPhone SE just came out in March, and it's been further found that LG trademarked the name in late February. At that point in time, the iPhone SE was still just a rumor. Maybe LG was just covering its bases, but the facts still stand – could we be seeing a more handy, 4-inch version of LG's modular flagship too?

LG filing a trademark for that name isn't the first time it's done so. In fact, LG creating a smaller version of its handsets wouldn't be a first for the company either. And it's not just LG. Apple, Sony, Samsung, to name just a few, have all created high-end compact devices. Ultimately, it's a practice followed by other companies looking forward to protecting their brand, just in case.

Nonetheless, it would be quite interesting to see how LG would pull off a more compact version of the G5. The G5, in fact, has quite a unique design and we imagine it wouldn't be such an easy feat to replicate its modular design in a smaller form factor.

Doing so would require the creation of a larger product line and supply chain to cover parts for two different sizes for each of the modular parts that LG has revealed so far. That includes an additional battery pack, a camera pack, and even a high fidelity audio pack. LG has revealed that there's even more in the pipeline, too.

As a result, LG's trademark filing does indeed help protect its brand while giving it the opportunity to compete should the need to do so arise. Overall, seeing a more compact and equally powerful G5 but without the standout modular design would be a bit of a letdown.