apple ipad dispute in China settled

[mr friendly guy]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-02/a ... te/4105456

Apple settles iPad trademark dispute in China
Updated July 03, 2012 12:14:50

Technology giant Apple has agreed to pay Chinese company Proview nearly $US60 million to settle a dispute over ownership of the iPad trademark.

Apple insists it bought the the global rights to the iPad name from Proview Technology in 2009.

However, a Chinese court ruled last year that Proview still owned the name in China.

The High Court in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong now says the government body overseeing trademarks has been asked to immediately recognise Apple's rights to the iPad name.

"This means that the dispute between Apple and Shenzhen Proview over the rights to the iPad brand is resolved in a satisfactory manner," it said in a statement.

Proview's Taiwanese affiliate registered 'iPad' as a trademark in several countries including China as early as 2000, years before Apple began selling its hugely successful tablet computer.

Apple subsequently bought the rights for the global trademark, including from the Taiwanese affiliate, but Proview said the deal did not include the rights for mainland China, and sued after the iPad was launched.

A lawyer for Proview, Xie Xianghui, said the debt-ridden Chinese company had originally sought $400 million in compensation for giving up the rights but settled for the lower amount out of "practical" considerations.

"We previously hoped that the compensation would be $400 million, so that it would be enough to pay back all the debts," Xie told the AFP news agency.

"We have to say it is the practical choice. It is a comprehensive settlement and the end of the lawsuit in mainland China."

Xie said Proview felt "pressure" to settle, though he declined to say why.

"Court mediation gave us some pressure," he said.

Proview had previously sought bans on iPad sales in China and blocks on imports into and exports out of the country.

The legal battle did not halt sales of the iPad through Apple's five retail stores in mainland China.

But Chinese media reported that local officials had seized scores of iPads in at least two cities, and the resolution of the case should clear the way for Apple to sell the iPad free of any trademark concerns.

Sales to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan have become Apple's fastest-growing region, with revenues second only to the United States.

Apple officials were not immediately available for comment on Monday's announcement.

I thought this would be interesting considering the other Apple thread about trademarks with Samsung.