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Apple Accused of 'iPad' Trademark Infringement in China

Wednesday October 27, 2010 8:42 am PDT by Eric Slivka

AFP reports that a Chinese firm has accused Apple of trademark infringement for its use of the "iPad" name in that country, seeking up to $800 million to settle the dispute.

Proview Technology Co, Ltd, which is based in the southern city of Shenzhen, registered the iPad trademark in January 2000 and still owns the rights to its use in China, the Beijing News said, citing government archives.

Apple started selling its sleek iPad tablet computer in China last month, after months of grey-market action among avid buyers unwilling to wait for the official launch.

Reports indicate that Proview has demanded that Apple immediately cease its infringement and enter into fresh negotiations for the rights to use the "iPad" name in China. The two companies apparently held earlier talks regarding the trademark, but were unable to reach an agreement. Apple also brought Proview to court back in May in order to prevent the company from transferring the trademark rights to third parties.
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franswa za
21 months ago
oops and OUCH apple! there go our aapl dividends? :(

ps- i hope that apple better checks out all relevant apple like names and other copyrighted related stuff in china....... that market is VERY important for the company
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Amazing Iceman
21 months ago
Apple, just called CHiPad in China... Don't give your money away to those morons. Use it to provide free webcams to iPad users instead, and keep us happy!
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aardwolf
21 months ago
The company said they wanted $800 million to license the name iPad. PLEASE!!! Just buy the stupid company, lay off all the lawyers, and use the name as you wish.

They could also buy 51% of the shares, and vote as the majority stockholder to give the license to themselves.
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dpkworldwide
21 months ago
Oh, this is rich: the Chinese--you know, the land of unlimited bootlegging, counterfeits and knock-offs--are complaining that someone is infringing THEIR intellectual property rights? Of all the dashed hypocrisy...
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NinjaHERO
21 months ago
The joy of dealing with multiple countries. You can't even be mad at the Chinese company, it's not like the bought it trying to block Apple. They have had it since 2000. Wow.
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roland.g
21 months ago
Sure but what has this company been doing with this trademark since then. A product, a service, anything. Is it Ipad, IPAD, maybe even I-Pad, or is it actually iPad. Uh-oh, look at Apple making millions of a successful product. Let's sue then for trademark infringement of no product.
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OllyW
21 months ago

Sure but what has this company been doing with this trademark since then. A product, a service, anything. Is it Ipad, IPAD, maybe even I-Pad, or is it actually iPad. Uh-oh, look at Apple making millions of a successful product. Let's sue then for trademark infringement of no product.


Apple used to make a product called a PowerBook and you can bet they've got trademarks for that name throughout the world.

It's been over 4 years since they last sold a product with that name so do you think it's ok for someone else to use it without Apple's permission?
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hirshnoc
21 months ago
Very sleek. Show an iPad with pictures of Asians for a story about China.
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nastebu
21 months ago

Oh, this is rich: the Chinese--you know, the land of unlimited bootlegging, counterfeits and knock-offs--are complaining that someone is infringing THEIR intellectual property rights? Of all the dashed hypocrisy...


Not "the Chinese." One Chinese company, which apparently does have the rights to the name.

Not that I don't see the irony, but there's nothing hypocritical in this company defending a copyright they hold.

Very sleek. Show an iPad with pictures of Asians for a story about China.


It must be an image from the Chinese Apple Store, since the text is Chinese characters.
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Ksane
21 months ago

Apple used to make a product called a PowerBook and you can bet they've got trademarks for that name throughout the world.
It's been over 4 years since they last sold a product with that name so do you think it's ok for someone else to use it without Apple's permission?


No kidding!! Can you imagine the sh*tstorm Apple would put up if someone tried using the "PowerBook" name anytime in the next 500 yrs?????
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