Retailers to halt iPad sales in China, post ruling

An update to the ongoing Apple - Proview dispute over the trademark “iPad” name, comes from the Intermediate People’s Court, in the city of Huizhou, dealing a blow to Apple’s ambitions in the country. The lower court has in its ruling ordered retailers across the country to halt the sales of the iPad tablet in the country. Although not being considered as the one to have far-reaching impacts, a CNET report confirms that Proview Technology has sought to cease the sales of the iPad tablet, across some 40 cities in China. Apple, in a parallel update has threatened Proview Technology with a defamation lawsuit, while Proview Technology has threatened Apple with a $2 billion lawsuit, which it plans to file in U.S courts, in a manner similar to the one currently filed at a court in China. 

In the line of fire..!

There, however seems to be some ambiguity on the matter. Cupertino-based, Apple Inc. is of the opinion that they’ve had a deal with Proview Technology, earlier, wherein the specifics of the iPad trademark were sorted. Proview Technology, however, according to Apple is refusing to accept this. Quoting an Apple representative, the report stated, “We bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago. Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in China and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter.” Proview, on their part have, according to this report, “…claimed that one of its subsidiaries sold the name to Apple years ago but didn’t have the authority to do so. Proview has reportedly been looking to settle out of court over the issue but says that Apple has so far failed to respond to its requests.”

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China-based, Proview Technology and Cupertino-based, Apple Inc. have been embroiled in a bitter tangle over the ownership of the iPad trademark in China. While Apple claims to be the rightful owner of the global trademark name, iPad, including in China; Proview claims that when Apple had gone about securing the rights to the trademark name, globally, Proview had retained ownership to theirs and it has remained so, ever since. Now, having expressed displeasure over Apple carrying out the sales of the tablet in the country, the battle has been escalating. The China-based company had, on the grounds of temporary impoundment had asked authorities to seize several units of the iPad tablet, which retailers had put up for sales. Proview, however have admitted that Apple’s burgeoning fan base in the country is making the task a little difficult for them.