Apple Doesn't Own the iPad Trademark in China

[The Wooster]

Apple Doesn't Own the iPad Trademark in China

Someone is selling knock-off iPads in China. Odd thing is; according to the Chinese courts, it's Apple.

It turns out that Apple does not, in fact, own the trademark for the iPad name in China. A Chinese company called Proview Technologies filed for the iPad trademark back at the turn of the century. At some point they sold the rights to a firm in the UK, who promptly sold them to Apple. The problem is; the original sale did not include in the Chinese trademark rights. That means Apple has been selling the iPad in Chinese territories in violation of Chinese trademark law.

Proview Technology are, quite naturally, taking legal action to protect their trademark. They're seeking 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in compensation from Apple for, heh, copyright infringement.

Despite its reputation for being a counterfeiter's equivalent of Disneyland, China is one of the largest tech markets, and the largest smartphone market, in the world. Losing access to that market, even temporarily, could be a huge blow to Apple.

Source: Reuters [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/06/us-apple-china-idUSTRE7B52EB20111206]

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[Spacewolf]

Shouldnt it be the UK country who they sold the rights to that can sue

 

[The Wooster]

Shouldnt it be the UK country who they sold the rights to that can sue

No, because Proview never sold the Chinese rights to them.

 

[Screamarie]

All I have to say is.....HA! hahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaha! I mean really? REALLY? Apple didn't think to check the fine print in the agreement with the UK firm and make certain something like this didn't pop up? Even Santa checks the list twice!

There's a billion dollar "whoopsie" if I ever saw one. But hey I suppose it can happen to anyone.

 

[Wolfram23]

That's so awesome!

I mean, sucks for Apple I guess (though they should have checked first!) but wow, that's pretty awesome that this can even happen.

 

[Irridium]

So, Apple is getting sued, for copyright infringement, in China.

There is nothing about this that isn't hilarious.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Proview Technology are, quite naturally, taking legal action to protect their trademark. They're seeking 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in compensation from Apple for, heh, copyright infringement.

Ah China, how you abuse the concepts of Capitalism to such amusing ends.

 

[vrbtny]

...........Oh SNAP!!!

Seriously, what else can be said? Except rofl of course.

Wow, copyright is screwy in China.

 

[robert01]

This will be a tough court battle for Apple, and because I not completely nothing about business law at all(or whatever law applies here) I am going to say that it is possible that Apple can win! But I hope they don't because I don't like them.

 

[Absolutionis]

I'm not sure if this is Apple's inattentiveness or their arrogance that led to this. Either way, Apple getting sued for copyright infringement in China is quite...

*puts on sunglasses*

iRonic

 

[Gatx]

They really trademarked the name "iPad" back in 2000? Before the iPod made it popular to put "i" in front of things?

 

[Absolutionis]

They really trademarked the name "iPad" back in 2000? Before the iPod made it popular to put "i" in front of things?

You know, Cisco Systems had the rights to the name iPhone back in 1999 as well. This was a full two years before Apple Grandmaster Marketing Icon Steve Jobs even announced the iPod.

 

[ElPatron]

Shouldnt it be the UK country who they sold the rights to that can sue

No. They sold the rights to a UK firm.

That firm sold the rights to Apple. All legal.

HOWEVER, the Chinese Proview did NOT sell the rights in Chinese territory. So it means that Apple has been violating Proview Technology's rights. Not the UK firm. They haven't done anything wrong.

Either way, Apple getting sued for copyright infringement in China is quite...

*puts on sunglasses*

iRonic

I think it's safe to say this has been the best post in this thread.

 

[Michael826]

What is this I don't even. Seriously, this is probably the most hilariously unfortunate thing I've ever read.

 

[Absolutionis]

It's just a name anyways. Can't Apple just call it the "眼 棉塞" and be fine with it all? All that matters is the Apple Logo anyways.

 

[The Random One]

In soviet China, Apple gets sued for copyright infringiment!

 

[isometry]

They really trademarked the name "iPad" back in 2000? Before the iPod made it popular to put "i" in front of things?

You know, Cisco Systems had the rights to the name iPhone back in 1999 as well. This was a full two years before Apple Grandmaster Marketing Icon Steve Jobs even announced the iPod.

Apple introduced the iMac in 1998.

 

[Doom972]

Heads are going to roll in Apple's legal department. They have more than enough guys who are supposed to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen.

Trademark law is what it is. I don't think Apple can do much about it.

It's just a name anyways. Can't Apple just call it the "眼 棉塞" and be fine with it all? All that matters is the Apple Logo anyways.

I thank you, fellow forum user, for teaching me how to spell 'tampon' in chinese.

 

[TriGGeR_HaPPy]

Ehehehe, Apple...
<img width=256>http://files.sharenator.com/oh_you_RE_Masturbational_Motivationals_RE_Dear_Blank_Be_Creative-s447x335-180525-535.jpg

I mean, basically what this person said:

Heads are going to roll in Apple's legal department. They have more than enough guys who are supposed to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen.

Surely Apple should have a bunch of guys who were supposed to check for this kind of stuff. And man, I do not envy those people right now. >_>