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

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014


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 ]

«13456711

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 205
    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.
  • Reply 2 of 205
    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
  • Reply 3 of 205
    Apparently Proview wants to leverage as much money as they can from Apple on this. This will be a good test to see what kind of gamesmanship Apple and their supporting staff in China are capable of in dealing with this company. Taking it to court is no sure thing, and while the Beijing AIC has been dragging their feet, the Chinese Trademark Office may take a dim view of any "laowei" heavy-handness in return.



    I expect this will resolve it self in a month or so.
  • Reply 4 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    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.
  • Reply 5 of 205
    Dear China,



    we'll just default on our debt and destroy your economy, MAD still exists, but it's economy-based now!
  • Reply 6 of 205
    Proview might want to rein in their spokesperson. Because that kind of comment sounds like they did have an agreement with Apple and it could be exactly as Apple claims. But Proview is feeling a little hurt over the issue that they undersold the trademark rights since they didn't know it was going to Apple. So they are trying to bully their way into more money.



    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.
  • Reply 7 of 205
    ivladivlad Posts: 742member
    Wow China really wants the world to hate it.
  • Reply 8 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



    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.
  • Reply 9 of 205
    "Proview "refuses to honor" their existing agreement."



    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.
  • Reply 10 of 205
    If this legal nicety regarding iPad trademark bought from Proview's rep whatever in Europe is



    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.
  • Reply 11 of 205
    blitz1blitz1 Posts: 433member
    Well, Apple isn't really a saint either...
  • Reply 12 of 205
    mhiklmhikl Posts: 471member
    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.
  • Reply 13 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post






    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?
  • Reply 14 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







    China doing this over one company's legal right. That's just too good.
  • Reply 15 of 205
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Just in case it wasn't noticed a few weeks ago, ProView already won an initial judgement in their favor regarding Apple and the iPad trademark. This is simply taking that judgement and now asking for an export ban.
  • Reply 16 of 205
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iVlad View Post


    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.
  • Reply 17 of 205
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Secular Investor View Post


    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.
  • Reply 18 of 205
    I seem to remember the majority of piracy of software coming from China, thought it was SOP.
  • Reply 19 of 205
    mhiklmhikl Posts: 471member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post


    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.
  • Reply 20 of 205
    mhiklmhikl Posts: 471member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Market_Player View Post


    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.

Sign In or Register to comment.