Chinese firm won't 'rule out' deal with Apple for iPad name
Related Blog Posts
- Apple may unveil iPad 3 at event next week
- Chinese company taking legal battle for iPad name global
- Company suing Apple over iPad name brings legal battle to US
- Chinese company willing to make a deal for iPad name
- Lenovo could benefit from Apple iPad legal woes in China
- More iPads being seized across China; some sales are halted
On The Web
Site Search
A Chinese court on Wednesday began hearing Apple's appeal of a ruling against its right to use the iPad trademark in China.
Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) is in several legal battles with Proview Electronics Co., which the U.S. company says sold it the rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries, including China, in 2009. Apple contends that Proview has refused to honor the agreement and has not indicated any willingness to settle with Proview, a maker of computer monitors and LED lights.
Walking into the Guangdong High Court in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Wednesday, lawyers for Proview expressed confidence, but also indicated the company remained open to settling with Apple.
"I don't rule out the possibility," Xie Xianghui, a lawyer representing Shenzhen Proview Technology, the company's main Chinese subsidiary, told reporters.
On Tuesday, Proview announced it was seeking to regain worldwide rights to the iPad name and is suing Apple Inc. in the U.S. for alleged fraud and unfair competition, hoping to have a 2009 sale of the trademark ruled void. Proview was previously only claiming rights to the iPad name in China.
Apart from having the trademark sale voided, it also is seeking unspecified compensation, a share of Apple's profits from alleged "unfair competition" and an order for Apple to stop using the trademarks.
So far, two lower courts in Guangdong have sided with Proview on the issue, while a Hong Kong court ruled in Apple's favor. Last week, Shanghai's High Court rejected Proview's effort to get Apple to stop selling the popular tablet computer under the iPad name.
Proview, once a major computer monitor manufacturer, launched a device it called iPAD, or Internet Personal Access Device, in 2000 but it was not a market hit. Apple launched its popular iPad tablet in 2010.
Proview contends Apple intentionally misled it when it bought iPad trademarks through a special purpose company called IP Application Development Ltd. that concealed it was acting on Apple's behalf.
Experts in the high-tech field say such tactics are common given the secrecy surrounding new product launches, especially Apple's.
Get the latest news alerts: Follow LTW at Twitter.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Please log in to add comment.
Hot Off the Wire
E-mail Preferences
The Skinny
- Don't miss a chance to toast NC's tech best
- Durham-based Appia on fast track in 'apps' growth
- SAS reaps benefits quickly from deal for Raleigh startup aiMatch
- Lenovo's big picture focus: 'PC-plus era'
- Join us to honor NC's best in tech
- Tech Wire to honor NC's best with 'Full Steam' awards
- Founders, investors to mix it up at Entrepreneur's Series
- Tablet challenge: In PC world counting 'pads,' Lenovo trails HP, Apple
- Raleigh-Cary vaults to 7th in Forbes big 'Best Cities for Jobs' list
- IBM: Retirement plan aims to help workers and Big Blue