Apple Could Lose $1.6 Billion In iPad Lawsuit

redletterdave writes "Proview Technology, which currently uses the 'iPad' name on several of its products including computer monitors, stands to win up to $1.6 billion and an apology from Apple for allegedly infringing upon Proview's trademarked name to use on its bestselling tablet. Proview International, which owns subsidiaries Proview Technology in Shenzhen and Proview Electronics in Taiwan, originally registered the name 'iPad' in Taiwan in 2000 and mainland China in 2001. Proview eventually sued Apple in 2011, and even though the Cupertino-based company retaliated with a counter-suit of its own, Apple lost the case in local Chinese courts. Depending on the court's findings, Apple could be fined anywhere from $38 million to the $1.6 billion that Proview is seeking. In addition to the money, Proview also wants Apple to apologize. 'We have prepared well for a long-term legal battle,' said one of Proview's lawyers."

And Apple's Worried?

[eagle1361]

Not that $1.6 billion would hurt them much, but all they'd have to do is threaten to stop selling the iPad in China. At that point, the government will just make Proview go away.

surprise...

[jythie]

Ah.. ha.. an American company lost in Chinese court to a Chinese company? A Chinese company that Apple paid for the trademark... yeah... never saw that one coming...

Re:Good

[compro01]

Let Apple taste some of their medicine.

We're going to need to increase the dosage dramatically if we want them to start paying attention.

Re:And Apple's Worried?

[mosb1000]

They are in bankruptcy right now. They're betting on this to save them. Bail them out essentially. Apple already bought the trademark from them (under another name), so I'm not even sure how they could have possibly lost this lawsuit.

ROC vrs PRC

[ZombieBraintrust]

There are two companies. They paid for use of the trademark from one based out of Tiawan. The Chinese arm of the company is filing the lawsuit. Not sure witch is the parent company. I would assume the Tiawan based one since that is who Apple paid. China does not reconize Tiawan as a seperate country. So there may be some politics involved in this dispute.

Re:And Apple's Worried?

[Whatanut]

Actually, I would assume they did do a trademark search. They found that this company owned the trademark and bought it from them. However, this company claims that they didn't sell the trademarks for China and Taiwan. Just everywhere else.

Fine print...

Re:And Apple's Worried?

[dimeglio]

That might be true. I think Apple tries its best to avoid or settle trademark disputes but it's impossible to know about all of the products. What's funny in this case is the suit is originating from a country where knock-off products are common place and culturally entrenched. Even the Apple Store was copied. It's kinda ironic.

Could Proview prevent exports of Chinese made iPad

[robbak]

Surely, if Proview is established as the owner of the trademark within China, then the iPads being produced in China by Foxcon are counterfeit items. Could that be the basis for an injunction banning the export of these items?

That would be an excessively heavy hammer to bash an enormous settlement out of Apple.

Re:And Apple's Worried?

[lgw]

Overall, manufacturing in America is growing, and is quite low cost - it's just all the new stuff is automated (so no associated jobs). You should expect a massive influx in electronics manufacturing sooner or later. Meanwhile, the manufacturing economy in China is collapsing (China loses far more jobs to robots every year than it gains from outsourcing), and that's a real and growing problem for the Chinese economy.