Chinese 'iPad' trademark owner looking to block sales of Apple's iPad globally
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 ]
Comments
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.
We will stop buying American debt and destroy your economy. Don't forget that we have you by the short curlies.
Sincerely.
China
I expect this will resolve it self in a month or so.
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.
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.
we'll just default on our debt and destroy your economy, MAD still exists, but it's economy-based now!
Which is just the way to get Apple to yank iPad production out of China regardless of what the government says. And then move everything else as well.
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
Don't forget that the US is also the market to which a large majority of Chinese manufactured products flow - so tanking the US economy would be tantamount to cutting off your nose to spite your face.
No, Proview has decided - "in for a penny, in for a pound" on leveraging a payout from Apple - and they may have the right approach to do it. Good thing Apple hasn't announced a dividend yet - they may need some of those bucks to get Proview off their back.
That's pretty telling, don't you think? I don't think the Chinese govt. or other Chinese companies would appreciate it very much if Apple decided to, or had to, move production of the iPad to another country.
Proview's little tiff isn't going to stop Apple from making iPads, especially when they bought the rights to the name. Of course, maybe Apple should consider buying/registering any product name in ALL countries from now on.
a. Allowed to stand is one thing, over time negotiate new sale of trademark
b. Allowed to extort the huge money being asked through export actions
then I would be surprised is Apple does not start moving its future production out of China so that no nation can hold Apple hostage this way.
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.
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. .
[ View article on AppleInsider ]
I wonder if Proview can really persuade China to block exports of iPads and thereby throw out of work hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers who make iPads?
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
China doing this over one company's legal right. That's just too good.
Wow China really wants the world to hate it.
No as much as the world hates you yanks already though for putting your noses where they have no business.
USA and China have a love hate relationship; face it you are both fucked without each other.
I wonder if Proview can really persuade China to block exports of iPads and thereby throw out of work hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers who make iPads?
This is China we're talking about. This country is corrupted and Proview can buy some influential officials/judges/ministers as much as they like.
This is China we're talking about. This country is corrupted and Proview can buy some influential officials/judges/ministers as much as they like.
One hundred billion dollars in the bank is more than Proview's bank of dreams. Apple would be the one with the change to buy some influence.
No as much as the world hates you yanks . . . (and other rot)
Pretty nasty stuff, MP. I'm not a yank or Chinese but I can tell when someone needs a spanking, and his mouth washed out.