Apple Loses iPad Trademark Lawsuit
Ycwb.com, 12/06/11
Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court has rejected Apple's "iPad" IPR infringement lawsuit, in which Apple had requested Shenzhen-based Proview Technology drop its claim to the "iPad" trademark and compensate Apple for RMB 4 mln in investigation and legal fees.
Taiwan-based parent company Proview International registered several "iPad" related national and local trademarks in 2000, long before Apple released its iPad tablet. In 2006, Apple sued Proview over the trademark in the UK, arguing that Proview had let the trademark fall into disuse. In 2009, Proview offered to transfer the trademark to Apple for GBP 35,000, but retained the mainland China trademark through its Shenzhen subsidiary Proview Technology. To date, Apple does not hold the mainland China trademark to the "iPad" name.
Editor's Note: For more information on this topic, please see "Chinese iPad Trademark Holder Calls for Govt to Block Apple iPad Sales" MD 6/02/11 issue.
Keywords: hardware Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court IPR infringement trademark wireless Apple Proview UK tablet iPad law litigation penalty