Yesterday, we reported that government authorities in the city of Shijiazhuang had confiscated iPads from retail stores due to Apple's alleged infringement of the "iPad" trademark in China.
Bloomberg now reports that Proview Technology's Chinese subsidiary, which claims to own the "iPad" trademark in China has asked Chinese custom officials to block import and export of Apple's iPad from China.
“We are applying to customs to stop any trademark- infringing products from imports to China and also for exports,” said Xie, who is based in Shenzhen. “Apple wants to postpone and continue infringement of the iPad in China.”
If Chinese custom officials take any action against Apple that could have an adverse impact on the supply of iPad throughout the world as major of the iPads are made in China.
Meanwhile, Apple's spokesperson has said that Apple had bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 countries, including China.
“Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in China,” Wu said. “Our case is still pending in mainland China.”
Stan Abrams, an intellectual property lawyer and a law professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing believes that this should put more pressure on Apple to settle the dispute with Proview Technology.
"There’s got to be a settlement, and fairly soon,” Abrams said. “I can’t see how much more incentivized to settle Apple could be.”
Proview Technology had first filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Apple in 2010, claiming it owned the "iPad" trademark in China since 2000. At that time it was demanding $800 million from Apple. Apple had countersued Proview claiming that they owned the "iPad" trademark as they had bought European rights to the "iPad" trademark from Proview's parent company for $55,000, which also included China.
But back in December, Apple lost the lawsuit as the court ruled that Proview's parent company did not have the authority to sell them. Apple had appealed the December ruling that favored Proview.
Even though Proview seems to have an upper hand in the case, it would be quite premature for Chinese custom officials to block the import and exports of the iPad when the appeal is still pending in the higher courts.
[via Bloomberg]
Yes good news go china
If we do the same at this end, China would go broke in a day.
How do you figure. Everything in america says made in China. How many products in china says made in America?
Also, isnt china the place that the ipads ship from for preorders and whatnot? If they get the imports/exports blocked I can ASSURE you that there will be an agreement between apple and proview before the preorders of ipad 3 takes place
Oh the irony of it all
Chinese should get new laws.
If you are going to insult another country’s law, you might as well use the proper identifier. You meant to write, “China should get new laws,” or “Chinese people should get new laws.”
America is only as strong as our dumbest citizen or wherever you come from.
China is communist it doesn’t work there as it does here the government does as it wants not as the people want apple is not gonna get its way there. Could be a wake up call for our corporations that think it’s cheaper there ……maybe……..