Does Apple Own ‘iPad’? Maybe Not in China
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People at an Apple store in Shanghai. ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images
Apple’s iPad has been a runaway success by almost any measure … except for the name “iPad.” A Chinese company, Proview Technology, says it registered the iPad name there in 2001, and has sued Apple to stop it from using “iPad” in the giant Chinese market.
“We have to admit that Apple’s iPad is a great product, and Apple creates great value out of that,” said Yang Rongshan, chairman of Proview’s subsidiary in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “But this is not the reason to support their irregular practice here.”
Apple has argued that it bought the iPad trademark from Proview’s Taiwanese subsidiary in 2006. Proview answered that the deal only covered the use of the name in Taiwan.
Apple has lost in court there, and Proview Technology is asking for compensation between $38 million and $1.6 billion. Apple may not have to pay — but if Proview can actually stop Apple in China, it could be big. Apple has not commented on the case, and has not replied thus far to messages from ABC News.
“We ask the court to stop selling and marketing for Apple’s iPad in China,” Xie Xianghui, a lawyer for Proview Technology, said in China Daily. “We also demand an apology.”
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Soooo…a Chinese firm wants compensation from Apple for supposed trademark/IP infringement? Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black if you ask me…
Posted by: TX_AG | February 8, 2012, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
China can’t have it both ways. If they want to insist in saying Taiwan is actually part of the PRC, then that company’s argument doesn’t work. Let THEM argue with their government! I’m not a “fanboy” of Apple but I am 100 percent on their side on this one!!!
Posted by: Edwin Estrella | February 8, 2012, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
I don’t understand; they “had” the I-pad name since 2001. It’s been on the market for a few years now, so why the big issue now? The moment it got released they should have said something. I think that after a certain amount of time, as given by law, people or businesses should be unable to cry about copyright/trademark issues. It always seems to happen when an item becomes a huge success. Such greed.
Posted by: Brenda | February 8, 2012, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
Hear, hear, TX_AG!!
Posted by: D9 | February 8, 2012, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
A couple of points. They only need to convince the Chinese government who can slap on a hefty import charge and they have their money. People often ask why did ‘they’ wait so long but the reality is that these sort of disagreements usually go on for years before the general public hear about it. Apple has filed far more than its share of lawsuits to block competitors from selling products so no love lost for them. In fact they could use a couple of losses.
Posted by: glacia | February 8, 2012, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
“asking for compensation between $38 million and $1.6 billion” … It’s pretty clear who the real crooks are here. Ironic that the Chinese should accuse anyone else of theft. They’ve only stolen every idea they have ever marketed and are the source of all the cheap knock off products around the world.
Posted by: pgdion | February 9, 2012, 9:10 am 9:10 am
China accusing America of theft. LOL
Posted by: Conor | February 9, 2012, 11:14 am 11:14 am
So Apple took a million jobs that should have been U.S. based, to China, and now China is biting the hand that fed them the Apple! LOL!
Reminds me of an “earlier time” an Apple was handed to a man….guess what THAT Apple represented!
Posted by: Yes1fan | February 9, 2012, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
I like the “as Taiwan goes so goes China” argument, but think about it – that means anything Guam does, the US has to support in all 50 states.
Posted by: Sheila | February 9, 2012, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm