Apple loses ‘iPad’ trademark in China

[graphican]

Apple had purchased rights for a part only.. Apple has lost its case for the other parts of country. Read the case before making your opinion.

 

[illusion8]

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple won dismissal of Proview Electronics's California lawsuit seeking to block it from using the iPad name, according to a copy of the court order obtained by Bloomberg News.

Proview, based in Taiwan, has sought to block shipments of Apple's iPad tablet computer in and out of China. In the California case, filed in state court in San Jose, Proview claimed a December 2009 agreement to sell iPad trademarks to an Apple unit called IP Application Development should be canceled. The Apple unit made "false" statements to Proview in correspondence before the agreement, according to the filing.

Apple successfully argued that the case should be dismissed because the agreement required that the dispute be resolved in Hong Kong.

Apple "provides evidence that plaintiff specifically requested the Hong Kong forum and is litigating there currently," Judge Mark H. Pierce wrote in his May 4 decision. Proview "does not, in opposition, present evidence that demonstrates that enforcement of the forum selection clause is unreasonable or unfair," Pierce wrote.

Jill Kopeikin, a lawyer representing Proview, didn't immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment on the ruling.

Worldwide rights
Apple acquired Proview's worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 countries, including China, the Cupertino, California-based company said February 14.

Proview claimed Graham Robinson, an agent for IP Application, used the name Jonathan Hargreaves in correspondence with Proview before the December 23, 2009, agreement to acquire all of Proview's iPad-related trademarks for 35,000 British pounds ($55,267), according to court filings.

The case is Proview Electronics vs Apple, 12- cv-219219, California Superior Court, Santa Clara County (San Jose).

Apple wins case against 'Chinese iPad maker' - The Times of India

 

[Awesome]

This also means that similar lawsuits may be imposed elsewhere as well.

 

[JayAtl]

Apple can afford 1.6 billion. No exception for Western multinationals!

Another victory for the rule of law in China!

Says the man who is on all fours asking to be educated by them..

 

[illusion8]

This also means that similar lawsuits may be imposed elsewhere as well.

Yes why not, but the San Frisco case result will be taken as an example everywhere.

 

[JayAtl]

This is great news. It will be a teaching moment to foreign companies wanting to do business there that nothing in china is safe and serves apple good for providing 500.000 jobs in china. Excellent from my point of view.