Daniel P. 1
Proview
and Apple iPad Trademark Dispute
Proview,
Apple iPad Dispute: Lower China Court Rules In Favor Of Shenzen Proview
Technology In Trademark Battle By Elaine Kurtenbach
The
Huffington Post 02/20/12
669 words
Apple and Proview (an American
and Chinese company respectively), have been having a dispute over the
trademark name for the iPad. Apple says that it bought
the name iPad from a Proview affiliate in Taiwan for $55,000. They bought the
rights to the name from Shenzhen Proview Technology, which is a subsidiary of
Hong Kong-based Proview. The Intermediate
People's Court in Huizhou (a Chinese city), has ruled in favor of Proview. This
ruling stated that Proview was not bound by the sale that their branch made to
Apple in Taiwan. Proview has asked authorities to stop iPad sales in 40 major
cities. So far some cities have been taking iPads off the shelf, but not at a
nation-wide level yet. Proview demanded $10 million dollars when the dispute
originally arose.
Apple
will most likely win if they decide to continue this to the upper level courts,
because this is not a case purely about legal patents. Because the government
is so integrated into their economy, the government’s personal ruling of this
subject matter will change the course of events. The government will rule in
favor of Apple, because Apple, unlike Proview, provides many jobs for the
Chinese economy. Proview is in debt, and their shares have been suspended from
the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. However, because Proview is only asking for $10
million dollars (assuming they don't ask for more now that they've won one
court ruling), Apple may just pay them off so they could get sales in China
running again.
Apple and Proview are disputing the fact that Apple owns the name "iPad". Apple claims that they bought the name from a Proview affiliate based in Taiwan for $55,000. A court in Huizhou, China has ruled in favor of the Chinese based Proview. The court says that Proview is not bound by the choices of their affiliate company. Apple will most probably continue the dispute to the upper courts of China.
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ReplyDeleteTyrus W Feb 27, 2012 11:12 AM
ReplyDeleteWhy is choosing the name for the ipad so important? The fact that the producers created the product means they should have the right to the title name unless they can be bought out. Apple on the other hand is a multi billion dollar industry that deserves the simple yet cool name of promoting the apple ipad. Therefor apple is and always will be in charge of making big decscions with in there multi billion dollar company.