Chinese 'iPad' trademark owner looking to block sales of Apple's iPad globally

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  • Reply 21 of 205
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mhikl View Post


    One hundred billion dollars in the bank is more than Proview's bank of dreams. Apple would be the one with the change to by some influence.



    Yes, but the question is Proview knows who to buy. Does Apple?
  • Reply 22 of 205
    Change the name of iPad in China to

    iPaid
  • Reply 23 of 205
    Apple can crush Proview like a rotten grape. Then, if Apple wants to, they can shift most of their final assembly production out of China. That would be a major PR win for Apple anyway and kill 2 birds with one stone. Foxconn is setting up a new 12 billion dollar factory in Brazil as we speak. And there are other places Apple can locate assembly factories.

    I wonder why the Chinese government would side with Proview on this? Corruption, perhaps? If the Chinese government sides with Proview, they will spark an anti-China campaign with Apple and the rest of the world like never before.

    For many years, the chinese government has shown their arrogance and disdain for foreign trademarks and intellectual property. I sincerely hope that people get angry enough and stop buying all the Chinese-made crap at Wal-mart and stop buying Chinese knock-offs of trademarked products. They really need the west to buy their crap more that the west needs to buy their crap.
  • Reply 24 of 205
    mhiklmhikl Posts: 471member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post


    Yes, but the question is Proview knows who to buy. Does Apple?



    I think it would be like finding a hooker. You walk down what ever street sits China's "old Bailey" with a large bag labelled $$$ and they'd come flocking.
  • Reply 25 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mhikl View Post


    Apple, change the name of iPad in China to WorldPad, Apple Pad, NotProviewPad (NPV) or whatever. A Rose by another name sells the same with enough advertising notice. Let Proview stew in their little house of naught. Then watch them tank. Set up a humongous Proview Tank thermometer-like neon indicator outside their headquarters with dancing girls and guys in gorilla suits.



    Now that would be fun.



    Or, stop selling iPads in China but sell them in Taiwan and from there they could be black-marketed into China. Proview is on the verge of bankruptcy, isn't it. Patience is a Chinese and Apple virtue.



    "iPad 3" is ALREADY NEW trademark name which noone registered yet in China.
  • Reply 26 of 205
    A lot of smart remarks here.

    Especially those explaining that Apple needs to threaten it's second largest market in some way, ... Pretty smart stuff!
  • Reply 27 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stan_Timek View Post


    So Proview sells the rights to the name, probably thinks that it didn't negotiate for enough money the first time around and now they "refuse to honor" the agreement. China isn't becoming more capitalistic, they're becoming more like organized crime.



    And the difference is....
  • Reply 28 of 205
    Tempest in a teapot.



    Once Apple figures out who they forgot to pay off, all will be fine.
  • Reply 29 of 205
    China would be nuts to agree to that. An export ban on iPads would hurt Apple but it would terrify every company that uses China for manufacturing. If they ban exports of the iPad today tomorrow it could just as easily be phones from Samsung or TVs from Panasonic. Even just the suggestion of a ban is probably enough to have some companies getting updated estimates for manufacturing in other countries.



    China might have a lot of weight to throw around at the moment but millions of their citizens depend on the cash brought in by contracts with foreign companies for their jobs, even the Chinese government couldnt just ignore the potential impact of those jobs being lost because they imposed an export ban.
  • Reply 30 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stan_Timek View Post


    So Proview sells the rights to the name, probably thinks that it didn't negotiate for enough money the first time around and now they "refuse to honor" the agreement. China isn't becoming more capitalistic, they're becoming more like organized crime.



    First, Capitalism as an ideology *is* basically organised crime. Operating in it's pure form (without regulation and controls), it's basically "strong-man rule," or a kind of Fascism.



    Secondly, I'm not sure, but I think what happened is that Apple bought the rights to the trademark from a third party *before* it was worth anything. So technically, Apple is right (let's face it they are almost always right technically), but the way I heard it they paid almost nothing for what is probably one of the most valuable names on the planet right now.



    This is likely all about negotiating tactics. The decision will come when the Chinese government decides who is right or wrong and pushes that party to settle. they are probably okay with the little guy wringing (or trying to) some more money out of Apple, but if Apple threatened to leave or do some other serious thing to the Chinese economy, all of a sudden this company will find itself pushed to settle.
  • Reply 31 of 205
    I'm not even going to bother to even say anything about this. I don't have to speak for this. This story speaks for itself.













    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Proview, the company that claims ownership of the "iPad" name in China, has asked the Chinese government to block exportation of Apple's iPad, which would effectively bring global sales to a halt.





    Proview International Holdings Ltd. lawyer Roger Xie told Bloomberg on Tuesday that his company has been unable to reach an agreement with Apple over the iPad trademark. The company makes computer displays and is based out of Hong Kong.



    It has now asked China's customs bureau to block both the importation and exportation of the iPad. For its part, Apple has argued that it bought the rights to Proview's iPad trademark in China, as well as nine other countries. A spokeswoman said Proview "refuses to honor" their existing agreement with Apple.



    The filing comes soon after reports that Chinese authorities began seizing iPad 2 units in at least one city. The local Administration of Industry and Commerce in Shijiazhuang in the norther province of Hebei reportedly confiscated 45 iPad units from resellers over two days, due to claims of trademark infringement from Proview.



    While just 45 iPads were seized in that incident, there have been no other reports of Apple's touchscreen tablet being removed from the market in China because of the Proview suit. But with the trademark holder's latest filing, the effect could be felt well beyond China.









    If Proview wins and exportation of the iPad were to be blocked from China, it could result in a global stoppage of sales, as all iPad units are currently built in China. Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn is looking to assemble iPads in Brazil, but as of late January production had not yet begun there.



    Proview's filing comes only weeks before Apple is expected to unveil its third-generation iPad at an event rumored to take place on March 7. The so-called "iPad 3" is expected to feature a high-resolution Retina Display, and may even be the first 4G LTE high-speed wireless device sold by Apple.



    [ View article on AppleInsider ]



  • Reply 32 of 205
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by decsramble View Post


    China would be nuts to agree to that. An export ban on iPads would hurt Apple but it would terrify every company that uses China for manufacturing. If they ban exports of the iPad today tomorrow it could just as easily be phones from Samsung or TVs from Panasonic. Even just the suggestion of a ban is probably enough to have some companies getting updated estimates for manufacturing in other countries.



    China might have a lot of weight to throw around at the moment but millions of their citizens depend on the cash brought in by contracts with foreign companies for their jobs, even the Chinese government couldnt just ignore the potential impact of those jobs being lost because they imposed an export ban.



    True. Notice iPad confiscation yesterday happened only in a small town, a town where Proview has some influence perhaps. China would love for Apple to pay Proview but how far are they willing to go?
  • Reply 33 of 205
    Gotta love the disgusting Chinese government and their disrespect for every law ever created in history.
  • Reply 34 of 205
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    The problem with this scenario is that Proview (or the Chinese government) do not have the right to block Apple's manufacture and export of the product. If Apple has undisputed rights to the iPad name in the U.S., there is nothing remotely illegal about them manufacturing iPads for export to the U.S. - even if they DON'T have the right to use the name in China.



    But I really love the Proview spokesman's statement that Proview is refusing to honor their agreement.
  • Reply 35 of 205


    So many ways to go with this...



    MyPad... AiPad... HaiPad... AyePad... OyePad...



    Smoke 'em if you got 'em...



  • Reply 36 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by xSamplex View Post


    Dear Apple,



    We will stop buying American debt and destroy your economy. Don't forget that we have you by the short curlies.



    Sincerely.



    China



    Wrong. China stops buying American debt, then either China must buy some other American asset or product OR see their currency appreciate significantly against the dollar, destroying their export industry.



    Also, when you owe the band $1,000 it's your problem. When you owe the bank $1 trillion, it's the bank's problem.
  • Reply 37 of 205
    iqatedoiqatedo Posts: 1,822member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    Dear China,



    We have 100 billion dollars. We'll just stop selling all of our products to you and move all our manufacturing to Taiwan. You know, the place you pretend doesn't exist.



    Sincerely,



    Apple.



    You certainly know how to set the tone for discussion! \



    Apple apparently thought the name was secured under the agreement that it came to with the Proview subsidiary. It would be simply amazing if due diligence did not reveal the veracity of this thinking. Something doesn't add up.
  • Reply 38 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mhikl View Post


    I think it would be like finding a hooker. You walk down what ever street sits China's "old Bailey" with a large bag labelled $$$ and they'd come flocking.



    I find this to be basically a racist remark that goes much too far.



    Everyone knows China is a corrupt country, but it's only a tad more so than the USA. Judging by your "Old Bailey" remark I'd say you were actually from England which is hardly a place from which one should be talking about the corruption of other countries either.
  • Reply 39 of 205
    So... maybe China's not such a cost-effective place to do business after all.
  • Reply 40 of 205
    The country that have tons of clone/knock off/KIRF products CARES about trademarks? gimme a break!



    There must be a big company pushing PROVISION actions, probably google.
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