Proview Technology, a Chinese company in Shenzhen, is suing Apple over the iPad trademark. Proview is seeking an apology, and is asking a court to stop Apple from selling the iPad in China.
Apparently Proview Shenzhen registered the iPad trademark in 2001, but Proview Taiwan, their sister company, sold the rights to a UK firm. The UK firm then sold the name to Apple. Proview Taiwan didn't have the rights to sell the name to the UK firm in the first place. It's a big mess and Apple apparently knew of the mess before they started selling the iPad. Apple sued Proview over the name and lost. Now, Proview is suing Apple.
It's ironic that a Chinese company would sue an American company over a trademark. China has notoriously turned a blind eye to American copyrights and trademarks. American software and movies are consistently bootlegged in China and nothing is done.
Go Apple!
"We ask the court to stop selling and marketing for Apple’s iPad in China. We also demand an apology,” said Xie Xianghui, a lawyer representing the Proview Technology Shenzhen.
Apparently Proview Shenzhen registered the iPad trademark in 2001, but Proview Taiwan, their sister company, sold the rights to a UK firm. The UK firm then sold the name to Apple. Proview Taiwan didn't have the rights to sell the name to the UK firm in the first place. It's a big mess and Apple apparently knew of the mess before they started selling the iPad. Apple sued Proview over the name and lost. Now, Proview is suing Apple.
It's ironic that a Chinese company would sue an American company over a trademark. China has notoriously turned a blind eye to American copyrights and trademarks. American software and movies are consistently bootlegged in China and nothing is done.
Go Apple!